For the first time since the power sector was decentralised in 2002, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is going to conduct a complete audit of the physical assets of the distribution companies.
The move assumes significance as it clearly indicates that power tariffs are going to remain unchanged this year too.
As the CAG audit on the discoms continues to be under subjudice, the power regulator has now taken matters in its own hands.
Tender for consultants
On Monday, it floated a tender to appoint consultants to review the capital expenditure, capitalisation, and conduct physical verification of assets of the three discoms in the city — BRPL (BSES Rajdhani), BYPL (BSES Yamuna) and TPDDL (Tata Power).
The audits will be done at two different levels to verify the claims of discoms over a period of twelve years beginning from the financial year 2004-05 till 2015-16.
Speaking to The Hindu , DERC chairman Krishna Saini said, “Until now DERC had conducted physical verification of up to just 25 per cent of the discoms. Now 100 per cent of their documents related to tendering, evaluation, purchase orders, store documents, road restoration receipts, invoice and payments etc will be audited.”
Sources, both in the Commission and the Delhi government, said that it is “highly unlikely” that there would be any increase in power tariffs until this audit report is out. Last year too, the DERC had refrained from increasing electricity tariffs in the capital.
The work will be awarded to the selected consultant in August and the entire process is going to take a year.
The audit will be conducted in three parts – 'Capital expenditure' (Capex) review of FY 2004-05 to FY 2005-06, Capex review of FY 2011-12 to 2015-16 and Physical Verification of FY 2006- 07 to 2010-11.
Power tariffs likely
to remain unchanged this year too; audit will take a year
to complete
