Relief for power consumers as tariff remains unchanged for 2020-21 FY

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Apr 22, 2020 at 6:34 PM Updated On : Apr 22, 2020 at 6:35 PM

Bhubaneswar: Amid nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, here’s good news for power consumers as there will be no change in power tariff for the year 2020-21 in Odisha.

The retail supply for the year 2019-20 will remain unchanged for FY 2020-21, informed Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) today.

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In view of COVID-19 situation, the Commission has allowed a positive gap in the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) of DISCOMS to the tune of order Rs 78.54 crore.

As per the move, the transmission tariff of Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), one of the largest Transmission Utility in India, for FY 2019-20 shall remain unchanged for FY 2020-21 at 25 paise per unit.

However, Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) tariff, which was 86.10 paise per unit in 2019-20 has been revised to 90.11 paise per unit for the year 2020-21.

Similarly, Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) tariff for Station I and II has been revised to Rs 248.97 crore as fixed charge and 153.91 paise per unit as energy charge against Rs 240.96 crore and 150.68 paise per unit respectively for FY 2019-20.

A notification by OERC stated that Grid Corporation of Odisha (GRIDCO) will purchase 29018.76 MU power during FY 2020-21 and sale 28090 MU to four DISCOMS — CESU, NESCO, WESCO and SOUTHCO — and 60 MU to CGP. The average power purchase cost will be 278.57 paise per unit for FY 2020-21 as against 259.88 paise per unit in 2019-20. The gap allowed in GRIDCO’s ARR is Rs 660.15 crore as against Rs 172.94 crore in 2019-20.

The Commission has not allowed the fixed cost of Rs 348.37 crore towards Central sector fixed cost. The average BSP has been revised to Rs 271.09 paise per unit for the year 2020-21 as against 270.47 paise per unit in FY 2019-20.

However, there will be no change for individual DISCOM in BSP rate.

Also, the cross subsidy surcharge will remain unchanged for EHT open access consumers.

However, there will be a minimal change in case of HT consumers including industries and factories.

As per the order, all the industrial consumers having CD of 1 MW and above and drawing power in 33 KV shall be allowed a rebate of 10 paise per unit for the units consumed in excess of 70% of load factor and upto 80% of load factor and 20 paise per unit for the units consumed in excess of 80% of the load factor per month. This shall be in addition to all other rebate the consumer is otherwise eligible.

Similarly, all the industrial consumers drawing power in EHT shall be eligible for a rebate of 10 paise per unit for all the units consumed in excess of 80% of load factor.

However, 2% rebate shall be allowed to all pre-paid consumers on pre-paid amount.