The power tariff in the national capital has been hiked by up to six per cent by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) as it restored a surcharge to compensate the private electricity distribution companies for rise in power purchase cost.
Reacting to the DERC’s decision, the Aam Aadmi Party Government stated that it will ask the regulator to review the hike as it will put additional burden on the consumers.
DERC chairman P D Sudhakar told a news agency that the Power Purchase Adjustment Cost (PPAC) surcharge has been restored following a directive from the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL).
He said the surcharge will be to the tune of six per cent for consumers of BSES Yamuna Power Ltd and BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd while it will be four 4 per cent for those getting power supply from Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.
The consumers in the New Delhi Municipal Corporation areas will have to pay 5 per cent surcharge as per the hike.
Delhi’s Power Minister Satyendra Jain said the government will ask DERC to review the order. Sudhakar said the surcharge will be for last two quarters as well as the current quarter.
The hike will be effective from Monday onwards.