3 months ago
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The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) connected Wednesday, February 18, said it volition analyse Mangalore Electricity Supply Company’s (MESCOM) petition to true-up a gross shortage of ₹83.12 crore for 2024-25 against the Commission-approved revenues.
Winding up a nationalist proceeding connected the yearly show reappraisal (APR) of MESCOM for 2024-25, Commission president P. Ravikumar said the company’s show during the twelvemonth was acold better. There would beryllium nary summation successful the powerfulness tariff for 3 years, from 2024-25 to 2027-28 arsenic fixed by the Commission, helium added.
During the APR, MESCOM claimed that it suffered a gross shortage of ₹83.12 crore and sought a suitable bid from KERC to span the gap.
MESCOM managing manager R. Jayakumar said KERC had approved the powerfulness acquisition outgo astatine ₹3,957.57 crore for 2024-25; the actuals, however, stood astatine ₹4,472.94 crore. KERC had approved ₹5,291.33 crore towards full expenditure; the actuals, however, stood astatine ₹5,751.24 crore.
As against the yearly gross request (ARR) of ₹5,095.79 crore approved by KERC, the existent request for 2024-25 stood astatine ₹5,913.5 crore. Even aft MESCOM improved its tariff gross to ₹5,830.38 crore, determination remained a shortage of ₹83.12 crore, the managing dirctor explained and justified the plea for truing up the deficit.
Alleges corruption
Objecting to MESCOM’s plea to true-up the deficit, Araga Jnanendra, Tirthahalli MLA, alleged that the institution appeared to beryllium indulging successful corrupt practices. Providing information for 2021-22, which showed that the institution paid inflated rates for factual energy poles, the erstwhile Minister questioned however MESCOM was capable to negociate a higher worth erstwhile the bidder had quoted little value.
While the lowest bidder had quoted ₹4,750 per pole, MESCOM negotiated it to ₹5,186 per pole. In the retail market, akin poles were disposable for ₹3,885, helium said, adding that Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM), during the aforesaid clip period, had bought poles astatine ₹4,282. Over 1 lakh poles were procured by MESCOM during the year, Mr. Jnanendra said, alleging immense corruption. Had determination been punctual purchases, the institution would person been earning bully profits without seeking tariff hikes present and then, helium said.
He further noted that consumers were urging the Commission to contradict MESCOM’s request and alternatively inquire the institution to trim administrative costs.
Raising a method issue, Mr. Ravikumar said the proceeding pertained to MESCOM’s show successful 2024-25. Mr. Jnanendra besides chided MESCOM for burdening consumers with paying the pension of its retired staff.
Farmer person Satyanarayana Udupa called for the metering of irrigation pump sets to accurately find farmers’ existent h2o usage.
Mr. Ravikumar further stated that the Commission would people draught amendments to the Conditions of Supply (CoS) for energy organisation licensees successful a period to simplify the process.
