HYDERABAD: The TS Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) has directed power distribution companies (discoms) to file their aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) and proposed tariffs for the financial year 2022-23.
The commission returned the ARRs filed by the discoms as they were not accompanied by the filings of tariff proposals (FPT), which is mandatory.
Reportedly, discoms asked for 10 days to submit revised ARRs and tariff proposals, but the commission directed them to submit the proposals by December 27.
Ministers T. Harish Rao and G. Jagadish Reddy conducted review meetings for three days recently on power tariff proposals. Comparing the tariff in different states, they came to the conclusion that Telangana had the lowest rates.
The revised ARR and FPTs will be given final shape after obtaining Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's directions, sources said. Reportedly, discom officials are revising the proposals.
The commission is also checking the feasibility to hiking the tariff suo motu, by itself. Officials submitted that ERC could impose a penalty on discoms if they failed to submit the ARRs and FPTs within the stipulated time.
Sources said there was considerable growth in electricity demand and per capita power consumption after formation of the state but the tariff had not been increased for a couple of years. For this reason, according to sources, though the government was releasing tariff subsidies in time and was infusing considerable equity in them, the discoms were facing financial stress.
Sources said that in order to bridge the revenue gap and strengthen the financial position of the discoms, there was a need to enhance the retail supply tariff. The ARR of the TS Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) for year 2021-22 was Rs 30,544 crore and was projected to be Rs 34,870 crore for 2022-23. The TS Northern Power Distribution Company Limited showed Rs 15,074 crore as its aggregate revenue requirement for 2021-22, which will grow to Rs 18,183 crore in 2022-23.
