'Delhi power hike: Discoms should have waited for CAG reports'

Condemning the six-eight percent power tariff hike, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday said the power companies should have waited for the CAG audit reports of the firms.

People in Delhi will have to shell out more money for electricity consumed from Saturday as the power companies have increased power tariff.

"The government is of the clear view that the DERC should have waited for the audit report of the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) and there was no need of showing a tearing hurry to impose this unnecessary burden on the people," Kejriwal told media.

According to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), the BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) increased its tariff eight percent, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) by six percent and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) by seven percent.

The DERC said the decision was taken following the assessment of the private distribution companies' (discom) quarterly revenue of surcharge.

Kejriwal said the DERC's decision was completely independent.

"On the basis of scrutiny of documents of the discoms and also considering the fact that power from some of the stations has been regulated in case of BYPL and no generation from the Bawana plant... the commission has approved the surcharge," the DERC said.

BYPL distributes power to the central and eastern parts of Delhi.

BYPL, BRPL and TPDDL distribute electricity to nearly five million homes in other parts of the state.

BYPL had earlier in the day written to the Delhi government, saying it was unable to make payments to power generation companies -- NTPC and NHPC -- owing to its "precarious cash flow situation".