Surcharge hike to make power costlier

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has approved hike in the fuel cost adjustment (FCA) surcharge for the third quarter of the 2017-18 financial year. The hike has been allowed on account of increase in fuel cost at the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) thermal plants and rise in power purchase cost from other thermal stations. PSPCL had moved a petition in the PSERC for approval of FCA surcharge for the third quarter of 2017 (October-December). It was admitted by the commission on March 16 this year. 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 the 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 the financial year 2017-18.