Hry to hike power tariff to benefit Adani, CGPL: Dalal
CHANDIGARH: The BJP government in Haryana has agreed to effect an upward revision in the tariff of private electricity-generation companies, Adani Power Ltd (APL) and Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL), as has been done by the BJP-ruled Gujarat, alleged Karan Singh Dalal, Congress MLA from Palwal, on Thursday.
Talking to mediapersons on Thursday, Dalal said the expected revision in power tariff will burden the common man in the state.
Haryana had contracted 1,424 megawatt (MW) power from Adani Power in 2008, accepting the bid based on blend of domestic and imported coal in the 70:30 ratio. The state also signed power purchase agreement for 400 MW power from CGPL under ultra mega power project based on 100% imported coal.
Power from APL was contracted at a levelised tariff of Rs 2.94 per unit for 25 years at state periphery through its dedicated network whereas in the case of CGPL, 380 MW of power was contracted at a levelised tariff of Rs 2.26 per unit also for a period of 25 years.
CONG MLA ALLEGES THAT THE BJP-LED NDA GOVT AT THE CENTRE IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE STATE GOVT TO HIKE RATES
POWER COMPANIES SOUGHT TARIFF HIKE
Adani Power had sought an increase in the power tariff in 2012 due to change in Indonesian regulations on coal, invoking provisions of ‘force majeure’ (unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract) and change in law.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) held that the force majeure and change in law were not applicable in the case. However, CERC, in a February 2014 order, allowed APL a compensatory tariff of 61 paise to mitigate the hardship on account of increase in imported coal prices in addition to allowing arrear payment with effect from date of operation.
Haryana’s power distribution companies filed an appeal in the appellate tribunal (APTEL) against the CERC orders, along with a stay application on recovery of compensatory tariff, but APTEL declined.It decided that arrears for 2012-2013 may not be paid till final decision but directed the payment of dues thereafter regularly as per the CERC order.
The distribution companies then filed an application in the Supreme Court which granted a stay in Haryana’s favour on August 25, 2014 and ordered APTEL to decide the matter expeditiously.
The APTEL, in its April 7, 2016 order, said: “We hold that promulgation of Indonesian regulation has resulted in a force majeure impacting the projects of APL and CGPL adversely. The generators would, therefore, be entitled to relief only as available under the power purchase agreements (PPAs).”
In April 2017, the Supreme Court ordered that it was of the view that though the change in Indonesian law would not qualify as a change in law under the
guidelines read with the PPA, a change in Indian law certainly would.
Dalal, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP-ruled Haryana would follow the Gujarat government as there was pressure from the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. “The Congress regime in Punjab will not give in to this,’’ the former minister claimed.