Brace for a power shock

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 8

Brace for a shock in your next power bill! The Electricity Department has decided to levy fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges on consumers in the bill to be issued during the February-March period this year. As a result, the consumers will have to pay 25 to 30 per cent extra depending upon the load and consumption.

Sources said the department was levying the charges on the consumers to make up for the costly electricity it bought during the October-December period last year.

In 2012, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) had authorised the UT Electricity Department to charge consumers for the fuel and power procurement cost variations. An order issued by the department in this regard stated that the FPPCA charges should be included in the bill on a pro-rata basis.

A senior official said the UT purchased power from various sources to meet the ever-increasing demand in the city. At times, the Administration had to pay more than the estimated budget for purchasing power. To make up for the cost variations, the FPPCA charges were levied.