Electricity will not become expensive in the state. Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission rejected the review petition of UPCL in which it had demanded carrying cost of Rs 674.77 crore. The commission called it baseless. This petition was filed for reconsideration of the tariff order issued on April 11.
UPCL had demanded Rs 674.77 crore to compensate for expenses. The regulatory commission clarified that there is no justification for the items for which this money is being demanded. UPCL had said that the delayed payment surcharge of Rs 129.09 crore should not be included in the tariff because in the year 2012, the state government had decided not to take DPS in transactions with the corporation. The bench of Commission Chairman ML Prasad and Member Law Anurag Sharma clearly accepted that whether it is the government or the consumer, there are same rules for everyone. Therefore, DPS will be considered a part of the tariff. This also reduces the tariff.
The figure of line loss in the business plan of the next three years before the commission has also become a challenge for UPCL. UPCL had claimed 13.50 per cent line loss in 2025-26, against which the commission approved 12.75 per cent. In 2026-27, it claimed 13.21 per cent, which the commission approved as 12.25 per cent and in 2027-28, UPCL claimed 12.95 per cent, which the commission approved as 11.75 per cent. This means that the corporation will have to bring down the line loss to 11.75 per cent in the next three years.
The commission also said that in the last three years, UPCL’s loss was quite high as compared to the target. In 2021-22, the loss was 14.70 per cent as compared to 13.75 per cent, in 2022-23, the loss was 16.39 per cent as compared to 13.50 per cent and in 2023-24, the loss was 15.63 per cent as compared to 13.25. The commission admitted that there is no new fact, clear mistake or valid basis for reconsideration in the petition of UPCL. Hence, it was rejected. Let us tell you that on August 5, the commission also held a public hearing on this petition, in which the stakeholders had protested.
Here loss in 2023-24 becomes a challenge for UPCL
City Percentage LossGadarpur30.58Jaspur27.00Joshimath53.92Khatima53.00Luxar27.00Landhaura69.40Mangalore47.62Sitaganj27.25
