Odisha power consumers demand 30% cut in tariff

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 30:

The Electricity Consumers Association of Odisha met state Enerygy Minister Pranab Prakash Das on Sunday and demanded 30% reduction in electricity taxes, 50% subsidy for the agriculture sector and a CAG audit of all four distribution companies (discoms).

Presenting the statistics, the Chairman of the association, Panchanan Kanungo said, “The transportation and distribution (T & D) losses stand at 27.15% at all India level. While it is 12.94% in Andhra Ppradesh, 20.16% in Delhi, 17.3% in Gujarat and 15.56% Kerala, it  is a staggering 37.08% in Odisha, making it number one in T & D losses.”

“The four distribution companies (CESU, WESCO, SOUTHCO and NESCO) haven’t been able to meet the transportation and distribution loss target of 22% for year 2013-14 set by Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). This keeps the prices high in the state,” he added.

“Even though Odisha became the first state to implement reforms in energy sector, the benefits of these reforms have not reached the consumers. The distribution companies have failed to ensure quality and uninterrupted supply while being unable to minimize the distribution and transportation losses.  The government wants the consumers to carry the burden of its failure,” the association argued in a press conference taking a jibe at the government.

Secretary of the association Rabi Behera, Ex-MLA Radhakant Sethy, Congress spokesperson Sulochana Das, RPI leader Sheikh Abdul Wali were also present at the press conference.