Government-run power utility West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) was allowed to recover ₹1,679 crore by the regulator for 2015-16 under Annual Performance Review (APR) but the recovery will not take place immediately.
Sources in West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) on Monday said it has issued CESC Ltd, a private power utility, orders for 2018-19 and 2019-20 keeping the tariff unchanged at an average rate of ₹7.31 per unit including coal price impact.
CESC had asked for a rate of ₹8.32 and ₹8.51 respectively for 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively.
The APR for CESC Ltd for previous years is under calculation, WBERC sources told PTI.
Recovery of ₹1,679 crore announced for WBSEDCL will be spread out in a fashion so that the impact is negligible on the consumers, the sources said.
“The entire recoverable amount ₹1,679.78 crore or part thereof shall be adjusted with the amount of Aggregate Revenue Requirement for the year 2020-21 or that of any other ensuing year or through a separate order,” WBERC said.
In all probability, WBERC will merge the recovery into the subsequent tariff orders.
The tariff order for 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 is pending before the regulator for both the utilities.
CESC distributes power in Kolkata and part of neighbouring Howrah and has a consumer base of 32 lakh. WBSEDCL which distributes power across the state has a consumer base of around 2.03 crore.
