Vijayawada: In a shock to electricity consumers in the state, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has given the green signal for collection of fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) from consumers in the state.
The commission’s decision will result in a burden to the tune of Rs.6,072.86 crore. The commission has allowed the discoms to start collection of additional charges from November. The charges were pertaining to 2022-23 financial year.
While the discoms filed the request about a year ago, the commission withheld its decision in view of the general elections. After conducting the public hearing recently, the commission cleared the decks for the collection of fuel adjustment charges.
Power utilities will increase the charges by at least Rs.1.58 per unit which is likely to levy huge burden on consumers. “The commission approved the FPPCA recovery of Rs.6072.86 crores from consumers who consumed power during 2022-23, as against Rs. 8,114 crore recovery proposed by the discoms after going through all public objections, views, and suggestions,” said APERC. It said that it had lessened the burden by Rs.2042 crore.
The commission did not consider discoms’ request to allow carrying costs (interest). As per the commission’s order, discoms will recover FPPCA charges over the next 15 months from November. Discoms wanted to collect the dues in one lump sum. The discoms were directed to recover the FPPCA regarding agricultural consumption under the free power category consumers and other subsidised or partly subsidised consumers from the state govt. This would be around Rs.1,400 crore out of the Rs.6,072 crore recovery approved by the electricity commission.
Energy minister Gottipati Ravikumar blamed the previous YSRCP regime for the increase in power charges following the commission’s decision. He said that YSRCP govt had deliberately delayed the filings by the discoms to avoid facing public wrath which it could not escape in the elections.
Former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy lashed out at the state govt for deciding to increase the power charges soon after coming into power.
“It is Naidu’s Deepavali gift to the commoners in the state,” Jagan said. He said that Naidu had duped the people as he promised to reduce the power charges after coming into power but allowed discoms to levy massive burden.
