Fuming RWAs demand action against discoms for 'overcharging'

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Feb 25 2013 | 5:00 PM IST
Resident Welfare Association are fuming in the wake of a report claiming that private distribution companies in Delhi have billed the consumers an additional Rs 4,500 crore in the last five years for electricity that was never actually supplied.
The report by NGO Chetna said the discoms have been billing the consumers Rs 900 crore annually for five years by charging for electricity generated through Residual Back Flow caused by absence of "three-phased neutrals" in lakhs of electronic metres.
"The discoms have collected a whopping amount of Rs 4,500 crore in the last five years for power that was never supplied," said Anil Sood, President of Chetna. The discoms had rejected the report.
Demanding immediate action against the discoms, Rajiv Kakria of Greater Kailash - I RWA said they came to know about the "big fraud" while going through official data on electricity supplied through transformers in certain areas and amount of bill charged.
"The data of 327 transformers of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd which showed negative loss which means the discom charged the consumers much more than the electricity supplied," he said.
"If one examines the quantity of electricity supplied through a transformer in any particular area in a month and the quantity of energy for which bills have been generated then the difference comes out in open," said Kakria.
Kakria demanded setting up of a committee comprising technical experts from Delhi IIT and Roorkee IIT besides financial experts too examine the issue.
Gulshan Rai of Janakpuri RWA claimed that "fool proof evidence have been collected" which showed that discoms have been charging the consumers much more than the quantity of power being supplied.
Demanding immediate action against the discoms, Rai said the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission in 2011 had admitted that it was a very serious issue and directed private power distributors to take corrective measures.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 25 2013 | 5:00 PM IST

Next Story