Industry getting power through “open Access” to pay more—PSERC
Vinod Kumar Gupta
Tuesday, 05 July 2011
CHANDIGARH:The industrial units in Punjab getting power through “open access” from outside sources shall have to pay cross subsidy charges as per new order of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC).

PSERC in its order has imposed a cross subsidy charges of 74.48 paise per unit on power drawn by industrial units through open access and has rationalized the transmission and wheeling charges.

PSERC while framing the new open access policy has considered the view of PSPCL that high end industrial consumers migrating to open access without paying any surcharge, the burden on distribution licensee increases which ultimately results in increase in tariff of remaining about 70 lac consumers.

PSPCL informed the commission that 2513 million units were availed by the open access consumers during 2010-11and the power utility suffered a loss of Rs.371 crore. Moreover this loss is likely to increase to around Rs.1000 crore during 2011-12 as there are a number of applications pending with utility for allowing the industrial users to opt for open access...

The 240 industrial units in state that draw power through open access are planning to go to High Court against the decision of Regulator. Long term Medium term and Short term Open Access customers availing supply at 33/66 KV, in addition to transmission charges, shall be liable to pay 15% of the wheeling charges whereas customers availing supply at 11 KV shall be liable to bear 30% of wheeling charges in addition to transmission charges.

Open access consumers connected to 220KV and 132 KV would now be charged 11 paise per unit as wheeling and transmission charges , consumers connected to 66 KV and 33 KV have to pay 28.4 paise as wheeling and transmission charges and consumers connected to 11 KV voltage would pay 45.8 paise as wheeling and transmission charges.
Further Commission, decided that during peak load hours, the open access customer shall restrict its total drawl including open access power to the extent of the peak load restrictions allowed.

Punjab Newsline