Express news service

Posted: Monday, Feb 27, 2012 at 0137 hrs IST

Tags: Power Rates Peak Hours | Power Regulator | Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority

New Delhi: Power regulator Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority (DERC) has fast-tracked the proposal to introduce different tariffs during peak and off-peak hours, and the move will be implemented this year. The differential tariff is expected to change power consumption patterns in the Capital, reducing the demand gap in peak and off-peak hours.

Following the implementation of the new tariff method, power consumers in the Capital are expected to get advanced metering systems that will give them real-time information on the price of power — depending on availability and procurement cost. This metering system, popular in the US as well as European countries, will have the option of making energy consumption a matter of informed choice as consumers will be able to shift their power usage to non-peak hours, thereby, saving on power cost.

DERC Chairman P D Sudhakar said, “We are working on the differential tariff plan for peak and off-peak hours, and hope to implement it this year... Following this, the advanced metering system will work as a direct link between the discoms and consumers, where the latter can get to know about non-peak hours and shift their consumption accordingly. Initially, this metering system could be introduced at industrial units that consume over 300 KW.”

Sudhakar said the one-time metering cost will not be a lot, and consumers will be able to save a significant portion of their expenses on power consumption.