8 Jul, 2011, Richi VermaRichi Verma,TNN
DERC may allow the option to choose power supplier between BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna, NDPL & NDMC

NEW DELHI: Private discoms will not have monopoly in their area of operation in the city if Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has its way. Within a year, Delhiites may be able to choose their power supplier. On the final day of the four-day public hearing for consumers and stakeholders related to tariff determination for 2011-12 , DERC chairman P D Sudhakar told TOI that the regulator was serious about extending open access in the domestic category within a year.

"We are working on new regulations for the open access system. This will give consumers the advantage of choosing their own power supplier . It will create healthy competition among licensees ," said Sudhakar.

He, however, ruled out bringing in more licensees in Delhi and said the three private discoms - BSES Rajdhani , BSES Yamuna and NDPL - besides government-owned NDMC will remain the power suppliers. At present , the cap for open access is 1MW - the consumer needs to have a load of at least 1MW. So, there are no takers for it. The cap will have to be scaled down considerably for domestic consumers.

Freedom to choose their own power supplier is something consumers have been demanding for years. It was also part of the privatization agreement in 2002. The announcement is likely to bring relief to consumers who have been battling the discoms on tariff revision.

New tariff to be reasonable and balanced: DERC chief

New power tariff for the capital will be announced next month. While discoms have demanded a steep hike in tariff, consumers have challenged them on each point.

Sudhakar said it would be "reasonable and balanced" and based on a more realistic assessment of the commissioning dates of new plants (to check the total power available) rather than take them at face value as the last commission had done.

"We will be in touch with the authority concerned and not go mechanically by the dates given by Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Though CEA is the final authority on the commissioning dates of new projects, they keep reviewing and updating projects . Last year, the dates were taken at face value, but this time we are re-checking and re-verifying the dates time and again to ensure that we get the correct estimation ," said Sudhakar.

While fixing the new tariff , Sudhakar said they would not be influenced by any party, be it the state government or other bodies, and go only by current petitions and market rates. "The views of the people will be fully incorporated while determining the new tariff but we have to take into account factors like gas or coal price which is not in our control. These things can be easily verified by any source," he said.