Cancel licenses of Delhi private discoms - Consumer activists
Tuesday, 02 March 2010
TNN
New Delhi

Since privatization discoms have been fleecing consumers. Power failure in summers is a regular occurrence and people are still getting hefty bills - Says consumers
Delhiites vented their anger against private power distribution utilities on the first day of the public hearing held by Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). The hearing, only for consumer activists and members of RWAs, was attended by over 120 participants.All participants unanimously said there should be no hike in consumer tariff besides demanding cancellation of discom licencees, particularly BSES Rajdhani, for failing to live up to consumer expectations. Some consumers even quoted Section 19 of the electricity Act which mentions that licences should be cancelled if the licencee continuously fails in consumer services.

Expressing agreement with the DERC order for physical verification of discoms’ assets, consumers also suggested that RWAs also be involved in the process. There were also demands that discoms’ accounts should be audited by a third party. ‘‘Since privatization discoms have been fleecing consumers. Power failure in summers is a regular occurrence and people are still getting hefty bills,’’ said a consumer. RWA members said that Time-of-Day metering should not be extended to domestic consumers but should be implemented only for the industrial sector.

Interestingly, consumers at the hearing opposed the special concessional tariff given to Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) saying they should be paying the same tariff as DJB or other entity. The new power tariffs are due to be announced by March-end.