Congress Stages Protest Against Power Tariff Hike In Delhi

The monthly electricity bills of majority of domestic consumers in Delhi, who use more than 200 and up to 600 units, will be hiked by up to Rs 265 due to an increase in PPAC levied by discoms.

Congress workers and leaders staged protests on Tuesday against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government over hike in power tariffs in the national capital. Party workers, who were taking part in the demonstrations, were seen holding several placards against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his government, as reported by news agency PTI. In a video posted by news agency ANI on Twitter, Congress workers were also heard shouting slogans against Kejriwal. Party leaders and workers, who gathered outside the AAP's office in central Delhi, said that the state government "failed to fulfill its promise" of providing free electricity to consumers.

These protests come after the Delhi government earlier said that the monthly electricity bills of the majority of domestic consumers in Delhi, who use more than 200 and up to 600 units, will be hiked by up to Rs 265 due to an increase in the Power Purchase Adjustment Cost (PPAC) levied by discoms, said officials, as reported by the agency.

Officials in the government also said the hike in the PPAC surcharge by the discoms was allowed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

However, Delhi’s power Minister Atishi said consumers, who get zero bills with monthly consumption of up to 200 units will not be impacted. But, those who do not get a subsidy will have to pay nearly eight per cent more on their monthly bills.

 “I want to tell consumers of Delhi that the power bill will continue to remain zero even if the surcharge increases or decreases,” Atishi told reporters in the national capital. The AAP minister blamed the Central government for the surge in power tariffs in Delhi.

“If power tariffs are increasing in a city like Delhi then it’s only because of the Central government,” she added.

“PPAC is fixed for a term of 10 years but be it Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission or any other electricity regulation authority in the country, after every few months they assess the PPAC and allow power companies to increase or decrease the surcharge.” Atishi told reporters.

She claimed that tariffs were increasing in the country because of the Central government’s mismanagement which has caused an “artificial shortage” of coal in the country.