BJP threatens to stage protest outside DERC office

Delhi BJP today threatened to go on a sit-in protest outside the DERC office here during a public hearing organised to decide on a proposed hike in the power tariff.
Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission will hold a public hearing tomorrow with all the stake holders, including the discoms and resident welfare associations, to determine the power tariff for domestic consumers.
"It is clear that once DERC gives a go ahead for tariff hike Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit might delay implementing it before Assembly polls in a bid to deceive voters," Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel said.
"After DERC's stamp of approval, the tariffs will be definitely hiked immediately after the polls. So, BJP will oppose this move of DERC," he said.

BJP alleged that the review of DERC orders and Director Report indicate that BRPL did not register the targeted loss level. Going by its own submission till date, DERC has not recovered the amount on account of under achievement of losses for last three years which works out to almost Rs 400 crore.
DERC has already received petitions from three power distribution companies which demanded substantial hike in tariff which has been opposed by BJP as well as Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party.
The power tariff was hiked by 22 per cent in 2011, followed by five per cent hike in February last year. It was raised by upto two per cent in May last year and again by 26 per cent for domestic consumers in July.

After the tariff was increased by upto three per cent in February and it was again hiked earlier this month by 1.5 per cent to adjust the power purchase cost of the distribution companies.