VIJAYAWADA: Energy Department secretary K. Vijayanand on Friday clarified that AP has no dues payable to power generation companies for power purchased through power exchanges. He maintained that the name of AP was entered into the prohibited list of electricity sales due to “information error”. Such a situation arose because the amount of dues paid by Andhra Pradesh had not been registered on the exchange.
Vijayanand explained that the Ministry of Power’s notification dated 3rd June 2022 formulated the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules 2022 for clearing outstanding dues, including Late Payment Surcharge (LPS) up to the date of notification. These rules are applicable to outstanding dues of generating companies, inter-state transmission licensees and electricity trading licensees.
The energy secretary underlined that AP DISCOMs have liquidated all dues of generators up to 30th May under the LPS scheme, with total dues covered under LPS scheme being ₹17,074.90 crore.
He said as per LPS scheme, all due of generators are being paid in 12 instalments by financial institutions REC and PFC as direct disbursement to all generators covered under the LPS scheme. The first instalment of ₹1,407 crore was paid to generators on 5th August 2022. But on 18th August, ₹412 crore got shown as dues to generators in PRAAPTI portal.
Vijayanand pointed out that as per LPS rules, short-term access to electricity markets had been restricted by NLDC as per information on the PRAAPTI portal. However, dues already paid to generators had been shown as dues payable to the generators in PRAAPTI portal. After reconciliation of dues, information had been provided to PRAAPTI portal authorities. Thus restriction on short-term access to electricity markets has been removed.
He mentioned that some of the dues shown in PRAAPTI portal had been liquidated under the LPS scheme.
The energy secretary maintained that APDISCOMS have strictly followed the LPS rules of 2022. There have been no over dues pending to generators. The second instalment under LPS scheme is going to be due on 5th September 2022.
Vijayanand underlined that from 00 hours of 19th August, APDISCOMS have restarted trading activity on electricity exchange. He said necessary steps have been taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of power in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
