CIC to hear electricity tariff issue tomorrow

The Delhi High Court has refused to give any relief to Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission from a complaint case heard by the CIC to decide whether it has put mandatory information in public domain for seeking citizens' opinion on tariff fixation.
The CIC has admitted a complaint filed by activist Anil Sood who alleged that the necessary information has not been placed in public domain by DERC which has sought people's opinion on the tariff fixation and claimed it was a violation of mandatory disclosure clause of the RTI Act.
DERC had fixed April 17 as the last date for inviting public opinion on tariff fixation. After receiving the complaint, the CIC had ordered deferring it till the matter is decided by the panel.

The regulator approached Delhi High Court seeking relief on the orders issued by Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu to defer the proceeding but no such relief was given by the High Court.
"In these circumstances, parties and counsels will appear before the CIC on May 6, 2015. The CIC, will conclude the hearing on or before May 08, 2015. Mr Malhotra (representing DERC), assures the court that, in the meanwhile, the date for public hearing will be deferred," Justice Rajiv Shakdher said in the order.
In his plea before the Commission, Sood had claimed that if the DERC applies the tariff fixation without disclosing the complete information and hearing the objections it would cause irreparable loss to the consumers in Delhi and will result in undue benefits to discoms.

He had questioned how the DERC has done the capitalisation of fixed assets leading to revenue gap of Rs 20,000 crore.