More relief likely for Delhi power consumers: Goyal

New Delhi July 18 (IANS) Reacting to Delhi power tariff regulator's announcement of rate hike Thursday, the union government has said it will explore giving relief to city consumers.

"We will certainly find ways to see how consumers will be given further relief," tweeted union Power Minister Piyush Goyal late Thursday.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) announced new tariff rates effective Thursday that bring in a mild hike of 8.3 percent across all categories of consumers.

Underlining the autonomy of regulatory bodies, Goyal said: "For the present, people who consume less than 800 units a month and who are under the ambit of three private discoms (TPDDL, BRPL and BYPL), will actually see a reduction in their electricity bill! This will surely provide some relief to the common man."

Simultaneous with the new rates, the DERC has withdrawn the power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) for domestic consumers.

A DERC official told IANS electricity bills of 80 percent of consumers whose monthly consumption does not exceed 400 units will see some marginal fall as the PPAC will not be effective for the next three months till the time the surcharge is reviewed in November.

Consumers till now were paying a 6-8 percent PPAC for recovery of costs incurred by discoms during January-March 2014.

The DERC also announced two new higher tariff slabs for 801-1200 units and above 1200.

The power cost between 801 and 1,200 units will be Rs.8.10 against the existing Rs.7 per unit. Beyond 1,200 units, price of power per unit will be Rs.8.75.