Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Wednesday clarified that consumers received escalated power bills due to the Fuel Power Purchase and Cost Adjustment (FPPCA) charges which are determined every quarter of the year based on Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC)-approved formula.
Clarifies on FPPCA chargesrrrthe goan I networkrPANAJI rrHe has also said that the FPPCA charges have been levied on consumers only for the first quarter of 2017-18. However, he clarified that the government has not hiked power tariff and also assured that there will be no power hike in the next one year. r Addressing media persons, Madkaikar informed, “FPPCA charges are determined for every quarter of the year based on the JERC approved formula which are applicable to all consumers except for those below poverty line. Accordingly, the figures for the last quarter of 2016-17 were calculated.” rStating that the figures for the Jan-March 2016-17 quarter were high compared to the earlier three quarters of 2016-17, he said, “The difference to be recovered through formula of fuel purchase has gone up from 40-47 paise per unit to 148 paise per unit. And hence, the category-wise levy is ranging from 62 paise per unit to 327 paise per unit.” rThis clarification on FPPCA charges from the Electricity Department comes in after consumers complained about the escalated bills. rExplaining the reasons for the escalation, he said, “During truing up against petitions submitted by the NTPC generating stations from where Goa is getting a major share, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has revised its tariff while issuing tariff orders. The arrears amount raised by NTPC towards purchase of power and paid by the Department for the billing month from January-March 2017 are to the tune of Rs 92.58 crore.” “This move was totally unavoidable and uncontrollable as the same is as per JERC regulations.”
