GB Nagar: Residents submit objections to power tariff hike in meeting with UPERC
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GB Nagar: Residents submit objections to power tariff hike in meeting with UPERC

The residents categorically demanded rollback of the proposed power tariff hike.

GB Nagar: Residents submit objections to power tariff hike in meeting with UPERC

Residents of multi-storied apartments from across Noida and Greater Noida on Friday submitted their objection to the 
proposed power tariff hike with Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC). They have demanded rollback of the proposed power tariff hike.

CitySpidey had reported that the UPPCL has proposed a hike in power tariff up to 20-25 percent for all section of electricity users. The users had expressed their displeasure on the matter. Following which, UPERC had called a public hearing meeting on Friday in Noida.

Apart from Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, a large number of participants had also come from other Western UP areas.

The residents put forth their arguments before the state regulatory commission that residents especially from high rise apartments in these two twin cities have already been paying higher tariff as compared to those who have been residing in other cities of the state. 

Amit Gupta, who attended the meeting organised by state electricity regulatory commission inviting objections from residents and consumers, told that hiking power tariff is not justifiable.  

He said, “The power distribution company proposed to hike tariff by 15 per cent which is not justified. If the proposal does not get withdrawn, it would be really tough on consumers' wallets.” 

“The tariff has been consistently hiked in past two years. It has been third time in past three years when there is a proposal to increase the tariff. If not withdrawn, the cumulative power tariff hikes of past three years is going to be 42 per cent,” he claimed.

Residents argued that distribution company should instead reduce the tariff rather than proposing a hike. It is because the line losses have came down and the revenue collection of the company has gone higher. 

Gupta, a resident told that 5 per cent charge levied by deemed distributor for losses in distribution should be scrapped because the scope of distribution loss at multi-storey apartments are very less. 

He said, “These deemed distributors are mostly developers of realty companies, who built group housing societies in these cities. They don't follow rules laid down by the regulator. They don't get the power distribution account audited despite pressure built by residents to make the account public among their respective consumers or residents.” 

“It is violation of the rules, which say it is mandatory for franchise deemed distributor to get their account audited annually. But there are hardly any franchise which adhere to it,” he added.

Residents demanded that deemed franchise distributors should be directed to bear the infrastructure cost in case consumers at multi-storied apartments wish to have individual electricity connection for their homes. 

Vikash Kumar, a resident of a highrise in Greater Noida said, “Most of the deemed franchises are builders who has taken license for group housing societies across Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad etc and making profit out of it as there is hardly distribution loss in group housing societies.”

He further stated, “In December 2017, rates were increased by 11 percent from Rs 5.50/kw to Rs 6.10/kw, which means 26 percent hike was imposed in last two years. Also, there is no slab wise tariff or rebate for flat owners in high rises which is a big disadvantage for us.”

Talking to CitySpidey, Sarnath Ganguli, head of Noida Power Corporation Limited (NPCL), said, “Users had opposed the proposal. Hence this meeting was called. Senior officials of UPERC were present there and they will recommend accordingly.”