Delhi Congress holds protests against power surcharge hike

New Delhi, July 17

Congress workers staged protests at over 55 locations across Delhi against the recent power surcharge hike by DISCOMs. Addressing a large crowd outside the Mandi House Metro Station, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav criticised the Kejriwal government for doubling power rates over the past decade through backdoor measures.

“The AAP Government promised to supply power at half the rate, but in reality, it has doubled it over the past ten years,” Yadav said. “The discoms have been allowed to make over a 9 per cent hike in the Power Purchase Adjustment Charge (PPAC) tariff, misleading the public with the claim that there has been no hike in electricity rates for households, but a few additional charges have been levied.”

Yadav highlighted the financial burden on Delhi residents due to these surcharges. “From 2015 to 2021, power consumers were given Rs 11,743 crore in subsidies, but Rs 37,007 crore was taken away from them through various surcharges,” he said. “During the Congress regime, the average per unit rate was around Rs 5. It has now soared to Rs 10 per unit, although it should have been Rs 2.50 if Kejriwal had fulfilled his promise.”

Congress workers and the general public joined the demonstrations, organised by the district Congress committees. Protesters voiced their frustration over inflated power bills and arbitrary charges by private power distribution companies.

Yadav pointed out that the PPAC surcharge had increased significantly under the Kejriwal government.

“Locked houses, shops, and business establishments are receiving bills for power they never consumed,” he charged.

Yadav contrasted this with the Congress Government’s track record. “During our 15-year tenure, we made nominal power hikes only four times. Under the Kejriwal government, the discoms have been given a free hand to increase the power tariff in the name of PPAC surcharge,” he said.