Delhi Electricity Hike: After the recent decision of the Supreme Court, electricity in Delhi can become expensive. The court has allowed Delhi’s private power companies that they can now recover their old expenses money from consumers.
Delhi Electricity Hike: People of Delhi may soon get a shock of increase in electricity bills. The Supreme Court has allowed three private power companies of the capital to compensate the old expenses i.e. regulatory assets. This will directly affect the pockets of the common people, because these companies will now be able to recover this money from electricity consumers.
Electricity will be expensive in Delhi
Currently, 8 percent regulatory surcharge is added to Delhi’s electricity bills. But now this rate can increase further, which will put additional burden on the pockets of consumers. According to the Supreme Court order, BSES BRPL, Bypl and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited have been allowed to recover a total amount of ₹ 27,200 crore in the next three years.
Controversy has been going on for a long time
There was a dispute about this matter for a long time. BJP and many consumer organizations have continuously opposed this recovery. The BJP alleges that the Aam Aadmi Party government allowed private power companies to show excessive expenditure, while Delhi had no such disaster or special situation. At the same time, Resident Welfare Association and institutions working in the interest of consumers are also against this decision. He says that these expenses should have been an independent audit earlier, so that it can be known whether the companies’ claim is correct.
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What did the power company say?
On the other hand, power companies say that the money they have spent on improving the electricity network, maintaining it and purchasing expensive power is to be charged from the consumers. Now after the Supreme Court’s decision, companies will be able to recover this amount from consumers. BRPL owes about ₹ 12,993 crore, bypl ₹ 8,419 crore and TPDDL ₹ 5,787 crore, which will be charged through electricity bills in the next few years.
With this decision, Delhi’s electricity consumers will have to be ready for expensive bills. However, it will be interesting to see what steps the Delhi government and the power regulator take to implement this decision.