TV
Electricity consumers in Odisha are paying 79 paise more per unit of power, thanks to the generosity shown by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) to the distribution companies.
The fact came to the fore after the audit report for 2021-2022 prepared by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) under the Central government’s Power Ministry was published. The report has been published based on the performances of all the 117 electricity distribution companies operating across the country.
Following the revelation, various consumer forums across the State are up in arms. They have demanded the immediate return of the money allegedly fleeced by the distribution companies from the consumers. They have threatened that they will stage agitations across the State if their demands are not met.
Though the Odisha government is boasting of being an electricity surplus State, the consumers are paying more money per unit of power than the average price across the country. As per the audit report published by the PFC, the average price of a unit of power distributed by various government and private companies across the country is Rs 5.19. However, despite being an electricity-surplus State, consumers in Odisha are paying Rs 5.98 per unit of power. The per-unit charge is 79 paise dearer than the national average.
On the basis of the PFC audit report, various consumer forums and experts across the State are of the opinion that the distribution companies, OERC and Odisha government are jointly fleecing consumers.
“As per the audit report of PFC, Odisha consumers have paid 79 paise more per unit of electricity. The extra amount fleeced from the consumers should be immediately returned to them. Due to the digital billing system, it is easy to track how much extra amount a consumer has paid to the distribution company. Accordingly, steps should be undertaken for the return of money,” said Anand Mohapatra, an analyst.
“The State government and OERC have given undue favour to the distribution companies. There should have been appropriate direction to fix the price. There is no reason why the consumers of Odisha will pay more than the national average price,” said Ramesh Satpathy, President of the State Consumer Federation.
As per experts, the distribution companies have made a profit of more than Rs 2,000 crore in the last three years by charging the consumers at a higher rate than the national average.
Several consumer forums across the State have demanded that the excessive amount charged by the distribution companies should be returned to the consumers as per section 62-6 of the Electricity Act. Some forums have also announced that they will make people aware of the prevailing law and stage agitations against the loot in the coming days. However, no reactions could be obtained from the Energy Department and OERC in this regard.
“The so-called electricity reform is a joint bid by the government and the distribution companies to fleece Odisha. We strongly condemn the move. We will make people aware of it and if required agitations will be staged across the State,” said Choudhury Prabhat Keshari Mishra, Chairman of Janajagarana Mancha.
