New Delhi: Delhi will pay between 6 and 8 per cent more for power starting today.
Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal derided the companies that supply power to Delhi for "blackmail" after one of them warned of all-day electricity outages starting from February 1, in Central and East Delhi. (Arvind Kejriwal alleges blackmail)
On Friday evening, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission said the surcharge is for a period of three months from February 1 or until any further order.
Mr Kejriwal has accused the three private firms that distribute power in Delhi (discoms) of fudging their accounts to show losses and has asked the national auditor to inspect their accounts; he attacked the price hike this evening, describing it as "a burden on the people" imposed pre-maturely, given the audit that's underway. (Read Delhi government's full statement)
BSES, which caters largely to Central and East Delhi, warned on Friday that it no longer has the money to buy electricity from the state-run NTPC, which generates power. Today, NTPC rejected the Delhi government's request to continue supplying power to BSES, which owes it more than 150 crores. BSES is backed by billionaire Anil Ambani's Reliance Infra.
Power distribution in Delhi was privatised in 2003. Since then, discoms have complained they are losing thousands of crores because they are forced to provide electricity at below-market rates.
"I pay my bills on time. So how am I at fault?" asked Gauri Sengupta, a home-maker in East Delhi.
Mr Kejriwal, who took over as chief minister of Delhi last month, has asked the national auditor to study the accounts of the three power companies.
Within days of taking office, he delivered on a pre-poll guarantee of halving the price of electricity till March 31.
Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal derided the companies that supply power to Delhi for "blackmail" after one of them warned of all-day electricity outages starting from February 1, in Central and East Delhi. (Arvind Kejriwal alleges blackmail)
On Friday evening, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission said the surcharge is for a period of three months from February 1 or until any further order.
BSES, which caters largely to Central and East Delhi, warned on Friday that it no longer has the money to buy electricity from the state-run NTPC, which generates power. Today, NTPC rejected the Delhi government's request to continue supplying power to BSES, which owes it more than 150 crores. BSES is backed by billionaire Anil Ambani's Reliance Infra.
Advertisement
"I pay my bills on time. So how am I at fault?" asked Gauri Sengupta, a home-maker in East Delhi.
Advertisement
Within days of taking office, he delivered on a pre-poll guarantee of halving the price of electricity till March 31.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
No Interim Bail For Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal By Supreme Court Row Over Arvind Kejriwal's Letter To VK Saxena On I-Day Flag Hoisting Arvind Kejriwal Moves Supreme Court Challenging His Arrest In Excise Policy Case 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Trump, Musk Groove To Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive' In AI-Video Now Viral "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case US Judge Says "Monopolist" Google Can't Avoid App Store Reforms NASA To Decide Stranded Starliner Astronauts' Route Home By End Of Month Mob Vandalises Hospital During Protest Over Kolkata Horror Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.