No decision on fine: HERC

Chandigarh, February 19
The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has clarified that no decision with regard to imposition of any pecuniary fine on the two power distribution companies of the state has been taken and “quantifying as Rs 1 lakh each is neither factually correct nor true.”

A spokesman for the HERC claimed here today that a member of the commission, Rohtash Dahiya, had also subsequently clarified that his comments during the public hearing on annual revenue requirement (ARR) for 2010-11 yesterday had been misconstrued.

The spokesman said Dahiya had stated that while he had agreed to some of the observations made by another member TS Tewatia, he had not supported his colleague on issuing any notice under the Electricity Act, 2003, to any of the companies.

The Haryana power distribution companies today described the allegations made during the public hearing before the HERC on high rates of short-term purchase of power by the state in 2009 as “false”.

An official spokesman said that the short-term power for 2008-09 was procured at an average of Rs 6.34 per unit and for 2009-10 at Rs 6.10. These rates were far less than the prevailing rates in the Indian Power Exchange (IPE). He said by “prudent and timely” purchases, the Haryana Power Purchase Centre was able to buy short-term power at the lesser rate even when the rates in the IPE had touched Rs 14.50 per unit in August 2009. He said most of the power was purchased from other states like HP, Tamil Nadu, MP and Assam. — TNS