PATIALA: Power is all set to cost more in Punjab as the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (
PSERC) has approved Rs 103.34-crore hike in the fuel cost adjustment (
FCA) surcharge for the third quarter of FY 2017-18.
The hike has been allowed on account of increase in fuel cost at PSPCL’s own thermal generating stations and increase in power purchase cost from all thermal stations. Along with this, an additional burden of Rs 322.28 crore towards coal washing charges that are to be paid to the independent power producers (IPP) in Punjab as ordered by the Supreme Court will also be passed on to the consumers during the revision of the next power tariffs as the PSERC has decided to provisionally consider this amount under prior period expenses in the tariff order for FY 2018-19.
The PSPCL had moved a petition in the PSERC for approval of fuel cost adjustment (FCA) surcharge for the third quarter (October 2017 to December 2017) of the financial year 2017-18. The same was admitted by the commission on March 16, this year. The corporation had claimed Rs 10.84 crore FCA on account of increase in fuel cost at its own thermal generating stations and Rs 93.50 crore on account of increase in the cost of power purchased from independent power producers (IPPs) with which the PSPCL had sighed long-term power purchase agreements (PPA).
While pronouncing the order, the PSERC brought on record that since the tariff order for FY 2018-19 was under process and was likely to be issued later this year, it provisionally allowed Rs 104.34 (Rs 10.84+ Rs 93.50) crore hike on account of increase in fuel cost at PSPCL’s own thermal generating stations and increase in power purchased from IPPs during the third quarter of FY 2017-18.
Besides, the PSERC also allowed the PSPCL to include Rs 322.28 crore towards washing cost to be paid to the IPPs as ordered by the Supreme Court under prior period expenses in the tariff order for FY 2018-19.
Surprisingly, it was in October last year that the per unit cost of power in Punjab had gone by 8.5% to 11.88% as compared to last year. For domestic consumers, the cost had been increased to Rs 4.98 from Rs 4.52 and to Rs 7.36 from Rs 6.56 for the domestic supply. The cost had been increased from Rs 6.53 to Rs 7.10 and to Rs 7.47 from Rs 6.75 for commercial establishments. Last month, the state cabinet had also imposed a 5% surcharge on the electricity bills to mop up funds for the social security pushing up the cost of electricity in the state.
