Discussion on power tariff revision takes ugly turn

LUCKNOW: UP Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (UPERC) public hearing in Sitapur to determine power tariff for the new financial year witnessed an ugly scene on Thursday with heated exchange of words between consumers and power officials.
The piquant situation arose after a local electricity consumer association sought to know the reason for hike in power tariff despite low availability of power in the district.Embarrassed with the demand Madhyanchal Power Distribution Company managing director Shamin Ahmad decided to call off the meeting and walked out of the meeting hall.
This left the consumers agitated as they started shouting and raising slogans in protest. Later in the day, some consumers formed a group and took out a procession. At the same time, some of the consumers approached the UPERC chairman Desh Deepak Verma and demanded action against Ahmad.
The chairman assured the consumers that any apathy on the part of power department would be taken into account while deciding the power tariff. He also asked the Madhyanchal discom officials to reduce line losses before revised power tariff is put into effect.
It is the first time the commission decided to hold public hearing in smaller towns to reach out to consumers before power tariff is revised for the new financial year. After Sitapur, it is Orai’s turn for a public hearing on April 21.
UPERC has also decided to invite consumer grievance redressal forums (CGRF) to share venue of commission public hearing's to hold consumer courts and camps. The CGRF shall continue camps even after commission's public hearing.
Chairman of forum and MDs of Discoms have been asked to facilitate consumer for both hearings of commission. The discoms have also been asked to instruct and widely publicise the venue and timing in whatever ways they can.