Public hearing on power tariff held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2015 : Manipur State Power Company Ltd (MSPCL) and Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd (MSPDCL) jointly organised a public hearing on Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) and revision of power tariff revenue before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Manipur and Mizoram today at the conference hall of Hotel Imphal.

Senior citizens and officials of MSPCL and MSPDCL attended the hearing held in two sessions and presided by Chairman of JERC Manipur and Mizoram, A Chhuanmawia.

The petitions of MSPCL MSPDCL regarding revision of ARR, transmission tariff and retail tariff for the financial year 2015-16 put up before the JERC were deliberated during the two sessions.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Chairman of JERC Manipur and Mizoram, A Chhuanmawia said that a revised tariff order will be worked out before the end of the current financial year after due consultation with the JERC consultant at Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad.

Saying that different petitions have come from Mizoram and Manipur, the JERC chairman said hearings would also be conducted separately for the two States.

Executive Director (Technical) of MSPDCL, Priyokumar and other officials concerned responded to the petitions of the public.

Priyokumar told reporters that the MSPDCL proposed a 5 pc hike in tariff rate from next financial year.

Saying that tariff recovery mechanism would be enhanced, Priyokumar said that online payment facility would be introduced in order to simplify power tariff payment and opening of 'point of sale' at ICICI bank to prepaid consumers.

The power distribution system would also be improved and a functional customer care centre would be opened to redress the grievances of the customers, he said.

As per 2011 census, there are 4.60 lakh households in the State.

80 percent of the households are electrified.

Among them, a total of just 2.3 lakh are registered or authorised power consumers, he said.

There is also likelihood of procurement of power to the tune of Rs 300 crore at the rate of thousand million units from the next financial year in the State, he said.

As such, the State needs to collect power tariff of at least Rs 20 crore per month.

Towards the realisation of this, a mass regularisation drive has been started, Priyokumar added.

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