‘State govt should act on PSERC order on fixed charges’

Ludhiana: Resentment among businessmen against Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) is brewing due to the recent order by the PSERC, asking to pay fixed charges to the PSPCL on industrial meters for March 23 till May 23, which were earlier waived by the state government on account of lockdown.
The PSPCL had filed an appeal with the PSERC against waiving he fixed charges and the latter in its order on July 17 had ruled in favour of the PSPCL and said that businessmen should pay these in six instalments from September 2020. According to businessmen, it’s been almost two weeks that the PSERC gave this order but the state government had still not taken any notice of this.
According to Jaswinder Thukral, president of Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers Association, “It’s very unfortunate that the PSERC has taken anti-industry stand once again and moreover, turned down the decision of the state government, which was taken by chief minister. If the PSERC thinks that the PSPCL is in losses and must be supported, then it should also not forget that the PSPCL is itself responsible for its plight due to its wrong policies and it’s illogical to punish innocent businessmen and extort fixed charges from them even for a period which we didn’t even open our factories. The state government must take notice of this blunder being done by the PSERC and immediately order commission to cancel it’s order.”
Vinod Thapar, chairman of Knitwear Club, said, “Slapping of fixed charges on industrialists for two months is very unfortunate and it will put huge load on us. Already the industry is in a spot due to rising losses and how will we be able to arrange money for paying these fixed charges. What is even worse is that the state government is silent even after the PSERC overturned its decision. But businessmen will not sit silent and we will protest if this decision is not taken back.”
According to Harish Kairpal, finance secretary of Knitwear Club, “Fixed charges for two months were waived by the state government on account of losses incurred during lockdown by us, but unfortunately the PSERC has ruled out this decision. We have been asked to pay these in six month instalments which is pointless as we are already under huge financial burden due to rising losses and fall in sales. We urge the state government to take notice of this immediately and ask the PSERC to take back its decision.”