Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has recused itself from office after the two new state governments formed separate ERCs.
The Commission has also sought the Centre's intervention for resolving issues including the status of appeals filed by it in higher courts in public interest, continuation of 41 full-time regular staff, status of its chairman, members as well as distribution of assets and liabilities, as the APERC had not been legally dissolved. The move has come after repeated communications to the state governments as well as the Centre to clarify on the status of the Commission.
Meanwhile, as per insiders, both the state governments are making efforts to divide the employees of the APERC, though the fate of the Commission members and chairman remains unclear.
The APERC, in a document, has addressed the ministry of power, Government of India, seeking direction under Section 92/108 of the AP Reorganisation Act on the status of the existing APERC and has also announced that the Commission is constrained to recuse itself from office with immediate effect.
Since the document was released on the Commission’s website three days back, the members and Commission chairman have not been attending office. The employees, meanwhile, are attending office although they have no work as they are awaiting clarity on their status.
As per the terms of the Commission when established, all the employees are permanent and are also eligible for pension.
The APERC in the document said, “Three Regulatory Commissions are in existence as on date, the Regulatory Commission for the State of Andhra Pradesh, the Regulatory Commission for the state for Telangana and this Commission. Due to the turn of events, this commission has been placed in a highly anomalous opposition where neither has it been legally dissolved nor does it exercise any jurisdictional authority. Considering the situation, the chairman and members of this Commission are constrained to recuse themselves from office with immediate effect without prejudice to their rights.”
Inverter dealers predict 30 per cent hike in sales
Inverter dealers are foreseeing a higher demand over the next couple of months from households.
Sales this season have not really died down unlike previous years and dealers are, in fact, expecting a 30 per cent jump. The demand is seen not just from households, but also offices that need UPS inverters.
The continuing power crisis in the state has hit shops, restaurants, showrooms and offices in a big way, which is why the demand for high-power UPS invertors is on the rise.
“The sale of inverters has been on the rise over the last two to three years. As it is now clear that power cuts are likely to continue for the next couple of years, many consumers, who were earlier in two minds, are making purchases,” said P. Sainarayana, a dealer in Sukam invertors.
Most of the invertors available in the twin cities are of reputed national brands.
