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By Express News Service - HYDERABAD
07th July 2012 11:50 AM
Many citizens across the state are having to pay hefty bills for power consumed by someone else with the discoms slapping a fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) from this month. Some of them have seen their bills jump by more than 50 per cent. In Hyderabad, one consumer whose power consumption charges had been Rs 130 in June, received a bill for Rs 188 in July. The reason: it includes Rs 58 extracted by the discom towards FSA for the year 2009-10.
By way of FSA for 2009-10 alone, the discom, AP Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (APCPDCL) is raking in Rs 1,481 crore.
This backdated FSA collection opens up a curious possiblity: if a consumer has moved to a rented house since 2010, he is essentially
paying the bills of the previous occupants of the house. In other words, some citizens are paying for power they had not consumed at all.
Power utilities recently hiked tariffs after receiving the nod from the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC). But the state government decided to absorb the hike for some classes of consumers. But two months after the government's decision, the discoms have started collecting FSA charges.
The power utility had actually decided to collect FSA charges from 2008-09 to 2011-12 but the High Court cut out 2008-09 from the purview of that decision, so the discoms started collecting arrears since 2009-10.
A public hearing will be conducted by APERC on July 16 on collection of FSA for the years 2010-11 and 2011-12. If FSA charges are collected for all the years from 2008 to 2012, the discoms will be richer by Rs 11,130 crore.
Copyright © 2012 The New Indian Express. All rights reserved.
Comments(4)
FSA can be reduced to a great extent if our state Andhra Pradesh purchses surplus power from our neighbour state TamilNadu during wind season from June to September. Wind power generation in TamilNadu during this season is so high that the windmills are switched off in order to maintain frequency less than 50.2Hz. If Andhra purchases this power, it will be beneficial to both the states (avoidance of neglecting nature for TN and reduction of FSA for AP) Will they come forward to benefit one and all?
Posted by Laxman.G.P at 07/14/2012 10:43 Reply to this Report abuse
APEPDCL charging un ethically old charges in our electrical bills which are not seen in any managements. I think it is stupidity.
Posted by ANNAPURNA JONNALAGADDA at 11/14/2012 17:37 Reply to this Report abuse
APCPDCL making fool by declaring this Govt. or High court order..... how to people know that the govt used such fuel at that time, no one know about this .... no one can pay this FSA plz all make stand and stop paying this light bill.
Posted by Narender Soni at 12/17/2012 16:55 Reply to this Report abuse
the bill amount actual consumed 95 unit it is domestic Catogory 1. whereas they say catogory 1B dont know how did it arrived at Rs,189.50 and over n above FSA charges 21.39 Rs.513.74.
Posted by v.geetha at 12/18/2012 10:41 Reply to this Report abuse