(a) whether Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has inter-alia
recommended to his Ministry to increase the power tariff citing loss of private
companies distributing power in Delhi;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether his Ministry is considering to know the truth by getting the loss
cited by the private companies audited by Comptroller and Auditor General,
(CAG); and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF POWER
( SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA )
(a) & (b) : The electricity tariff in NCT of Delhi is determined by the Delhi
Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) as per provisions contained in Section
62 & 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Central or State Government has no role
in this exercise.
The Commission, under the provisions contained in Section 86(2) of
the Electricity Act, 2003 has sent a Statutory Advice to the Government of NCT of
Delhi on various issues relating to liquidation of revenue gap, loss on account of
sale of surplus power, allocation of power from pit-head power generating
stations of NTPC, need to extend various Central Government sponsored
schemes to the benefit of electricity consumer of NCT of Delhi, along with a host
of other important issues.
(c) & (d): The Government of NCT Delhi has informed that in the process of
tariff determination, DERC carries out various prudence checks while
considering the tariff petitions submitted by distribution companies. However,
DERC has also recommended to get accounts of three private distribution
utilities, at least for the last three financial years, audited by the C&AG
(Comptroller and Auditor General of India).
The Power Department of Government of NCT Delhi vide affidavit
submitted to Hon`ble High Court in W.P. (C) No.895 of 2011 has stated that the
Delhi Cabinet has approved for an audit of the BSES Group of Distribution
Companies` accounts by the C&AG since inception. This decision is in
furtherance of the earlier decision of the Government as stated in the short
affidavit dated 9.11.2011 that `…given the need to carry the conviction of the
general public/consumers about the authenticity of the claims of the Discoms,
it may well be desirable to get the occasional C&AG audit done`. This matter is
sub-judice at present.