No LOC to discoms: Delhi Power Minister

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain today reiterated AAP Government's stand concerning letter of comfort (LOC) to discoms and said it will not extend any such "guarantee" to the power distribution companies.
Inaugurating a 66/11-KV Grid sub-station of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. At Najafgarh, Jain said the discoms were seeking loans from bank and the government has nothing to do with it.
"When you go to take a loan from a bank you do not ask me. If you ask me it means something is wrong. LOC is a kind of guarantee that the government will not give (to discoms)," he said.

When asked about Rajender Kumar, Secretary to the Chief Minister, giving LOC to a power company when he was the Power Secretary and CMD of Transco Ltd, Jain said "LOC is given by the government and not by any officer. Any officer can sign on it. Signing it is meaningless, approval for it is given by the government."
Referring to agreements of previous governments in Delhi with discoms, he said, "We have been preparing a White Paper on all agreements with discoms in the last 12-13 years. Everything will be out when the White Paper is ready."
Jain said BSES has "written to us that there is no power shortage". "The maximum power requirement during summer months is expected to reach 6500 MW. They have made arrangements for required electricity."

The Power minister said that some temporary measures will have to be taken to avoid power outages caused by increased load in the peak hours of summer.

"In peak hours, people need to avoid using electricity for purposes like running washing machines that could be done later. We will be issuing an advisory and devise some ways to reduce peak load," he said.
The Power Minister suggested BSES to start a helpline for issuing power connection.
"Those who need power connection should be able to call the helpline number," he said, asking power companies to do the needful in this regard.