New Delhi: The electricity rates in Delhi may increase from April as the Delhi government prepares to pay dues to power distribution companies (DISCOMs), officials said on Sunday.
According to sources, electricity tariffs in Delhi are likely to increase in April as the Delhi government prepares to pay dues of over Rs 38,000 crore to three power DISCOMs.
However, the Delhi government is planning to subsidise the increase in electricity rates to mitigate the impact on consumers.
In August last year, the Supreme Court directed that the carrying costs of Rs 27,200 crore, along with regulatory assets, be paid to Delhi’s three private DISCOMs, BRPL, BYPL, and TPDDL, over seven years.
The national capital’s power regulator, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) confirmed that a total amount of Rs 38,552 crore stands in total regulatory assets in Delhi. DERC informed the central agency, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL).
According to APTEL, the outstanding amounts for BRPL, BYPL, and TPDDL are Rs 19,174 crore, Rs 12,333 crore, and Rs 7,046 crore, respectively.
APTEL also added that the amount has increased due to delays in recovery, and interest has accrued over time.
The court briefed DERC to prepare a recovery plan, including the amount and interest. In response, a seven-year period was locked in for the recovery.
Earlier, last year, Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood gave a hint that electricity rates might go up in the capital as discoms were recovering the pending Rs 27,000 amount.