Various consumer forums and political parties on Saturday urged the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) not to accept the proposals of power generation and distribution companies to increase power tariffs to be placed by them during hearings to be conducted by the commission from February 5 to 13.
The OERC has issued notices to OPGC, OHPC, Gridco, OPTCL, CLDC, Cesu, Cesco, Nesco, Wesco, Southco for hearing on different dates.
Notably, the average rate of electricity per unit in Odisha is Rs 4.88. While the rate of power distribution loss in Odisha is 40 per cent, power companies are demanding a hike in the power tariff from 2018-19.
Odisha Electricity Consumers’ Association Secretary Ramesh Satpathy said the power distribution companies should make efforts to lessen transmission loss by using outstanding of crores of rupees lying pending on them for years but consumers must not suffer.
Similarly, Samajbadi Party State unit submitted a memorandum to the OERC against the proposal of tariff hike.
Party president Rabi Behera criticised the distribution companies for transmission loss of around 42 per cent in Odisha against national average of 15 per cent.
“If one 1 per cent transmission loss can be reduced, annual revenue of Rs 80 crore can be saved. Discoms are not taking corrective measures rather they pass the burden on the consumers,” pointed out the memorandum.
The party urged the OERC to direct the Government to collect the pending power tariff of Rs 5,538 crore immediately.
The party threatened to take to the streets if power tariffs are hiked.