PSERC seeks objections from consumers before setting power tariff in state

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, February 6

Various consumers, including industrial, domestic and farmers, raised issues directly concerning them at a public hearing meeting called by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) here today.

DS Bains, Chairman, PSERC, heard the issues of the consumers at the meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was to invite objections following the petition filed by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) for the multi-year tariff (MYT) period from the financial year 2017-18 to 2019-20.

At the meeting, the industrial consumers demanded decrease in the power tariff as the industry had been shifting to neighbouring states. They also urged the PSERC to buy quality meters so that the consumer did not suffer the burden when/if these get broken.

Col JS Paul from leather industry and Gursharan Singh from small scale industry said instead of thinking of enhancing the power tariff, it should be decreased to save the domestic industry. Due to adverse policies of the government, the industry had been shifted to neighbouring states.

They said the previous government had announced to provide subsidised power to the new investors, whereas the existing industrialists, who have already been suffering, were getting power at costly rates, which was irrational.

While raising the issue of meter changing, they said consumers should also be included in the committee that purchased the new equipment so that the purchase of quality products could be ensured.

Members of the farming community and domestic consumers also raised the issues of enhancement in bills after the new meters were installed.

Bains said they had been taking views of consumers before setting the power tariff.