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| KCSDSS moves to SERC; Seeks dismissal of fresh hike | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 4 : Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDSS), a civil society group, has filed a petition before State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) demanding dismissal of fresh petition filed by the Power Development Department (PDD) for seeking another hike in power tariff.
The KSSDSS has also requested the Commission that in reprimand to non compliance of orders, the hike allowed in October last be also reversed till the department implements reforms as directed by the Commission from time to time. "SERC, from 2007-08 to 2011-12, has already allowed an unprecedented hike of 139 percent in the power tariff without having regard for the economic conditions of people crushed by turbulence. The tariff increased from average value of Rs. 1.40 per unit in 2006-07 (before SERC issued first tariff order for 2007-08) to Rs. 3.35 /unit in 2011-12 with 17 percent hike allowed only last October. Any new hike allowed after mere five months will further cripple the people and has the potential of public outrage," the KSSDSS pleads.
"Although the PDD has been quick to implement the hike ordered by the Regulator from time to time yet it has miserably failed to show any regard and respect to other directives of the Commission issued in order to improve upon the operational efficiency of the utility," it added. The KCSDSS alleges that against the target of complete metering by March 2012, the utility is still at around 50 percent of the job only. "The meters are not being tested as per JKSERC regulations which requires single phase meters to be tested every five years, LT, 3-phase meters to be tested every 3 years and HT meters to be tested yearly. Meters are also being replaced without testing in a haphazard manner. Meter testing lab one at Srinagar and one at Jammu have not so far been established as per JKSERC directive," it pleads. The civil society group alleged that the PDD had failed to check the menace of theft and misuse of electricity even in the metered areas much to the inconvenience of honest consumers. "SERC directive regarding use of Common Meter Reading Instrument (CMRI) for meter reading not implemented by May, 2010. The directive was issued vide tariff order for 2010-11. All six lac electronic meters provided with communication port for reading the meters with CMRI. The facility not being used by PDD. A meter without communication facility may cost Rs. 500 only against a meter with communication facility which costs around Rs. 1000 per meter.
In case the utility is allowed to check meter reading manually then why should they have spend Rs. 30 crore extra so far on such meters," they said.
The KCSDSS claimed that the meters were being installed without meter board, MCCB/Cut Out, earthing terminal and bearer wire as per standards. "The PDD is required to be directed to follow standard practice as being followed in RGGVY works. Substantial percentages of meters in Kashmir have been/ are being installed on poles thereby preventing the consumers to check their consumption.
The practice is against the standards followed by any other utility in the country," it added.
On Transmission and Distribution losses of 62 percent shown as incurred by the utility, the KCSDSS pleaded that the figure was incorrect. "In fact these losses happen to be 74 pefcent as the utility realizes revenue only for 26 percent out of the bills issued for 38 percent of total power pumped in the system probably to show the targets fixed by the regulator from time to time have been attained. One can understand logic in little default in payments by general public but how could there be a whopping cumulative outstanding of 750 crores with government departments," it said.
The civil society group complained that power purchase was being handled by an Executive Engineer of the Commercial and Survey Wing of the PDD. "Since power purchase cost is huge around Rs 3000 crores this wing needs to be fully augmented with technical staff including a finance wing," they said.
The KCSDSS demanded the meters in PDC owned stations (except Baglihar) which are very old should be replaced with new electronic meters.
On staff problem, the petition of KCSDSS reads: "The PDD is always making pretext of understaffing in the way of reforms. In fact PDD has an employee base of 31000 which include around 13000 daily rated workers /casual labors as well. If we add to this around 5000 employees of PDC as well, the total employee base works out to 36000. PDD has a consumer base of around 12.8 lac consumers and energy sold to consumers is around 4500 Million Unit. The employees per 1000 consumers therefore works out to 28 against all India Average of around 9 (for Electricity Boards which look after generation and transmission/distribution as well that is why we have taken PDC as well) and the employees per MU sold works out to 8 against all India Average of 3. Therefore PDD is overstaffed 3 fold if we go by national standards."
"As per the information, there are around 3000 vacancies in EM&RE Kashmir against 350 in Jammu. However, the transfer of posts to outside Kashmir continues unabated. Even many Junior Engineers recruited under a special policy for migrants with their undertaking to work in Kashmir have been transferred to move offices in violation of standing government orders.
No capacity building programmes for technical and non technical staff have been launched by PDD and there are no training facilities as well.
Hardly 5% of the central scheme of REC to train linemen and franchises has been implemented.
The funds available under the training programme have not been utilized," it added.
The KCSDSS complained that available energy with the utility continues to be distributed inequitably.
"The directions passed by the Commission on 2nd of January, 2012 in response to our petition filed against discriminatory power curtailment schedule have not been complied with by the utility. In contrast to the orders passed by SERC, the PDD has failed to issue fresh curtailment schedule based on equitable and non discriminatory distribution of energy amongst the consumers of the state.
Where as all metered areas in Jammu region reportedly get uninterrupted power supply, the same areas in the valley are subjected to daily cuts including a weekly 4-hour eve ning cut between 6 p.m to 10.0 p.m despite the comm ission's directions against such discrimination. All other directions of the commission have also been flayed by the department. |
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