Jharkhand News: Consumers oppose proposed electricity tariff hike at JSERC hearing
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Advertisement Advertisement Daltonganj March 25: The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) was flooded with demands and…
A Jan Sunwai organised under the auspices of the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission in Daltonganj on Monday
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj March 25: The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) was flooded with demands and no note of consent especially of the proposed hike in tariff of the domestic bill for the urban and rural consumers. The proposed tariff hike met with a stiff resistance and disapproval from the consumers.
Farmers wanted separate feeders for themselves. No fixed charge should be for the period during which the transformer lies burnt and non-functional.
It was a piquant situation here in Daltonganj when the members of the JSERC heard the consumers of their views on the proposed tariff hike which negated any thought of a hike in tariff.
In times like these when there is Maiyyan Samman Yojna where it is 2500 rupees every month for every eligible girl or woman and free electricity upto 200 units, any deliberation to hike the tariff for the domestic electricity billing is bound to face No to tariff hike.
At the Jan Sunwai of the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the consumers who were the petitioners told the Commission not to hike the tariff at all and instead it wanted better electricity services here in Daltonganj today.
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A consumer asked the Commission why the electricity department extracts fixed charges from the meters when the transformer is burnt and the power supply is off for days and weeks.
An official of the JBVNL also placed the plea before the Commission on behalf of the consumers to waive fixed charges of the meters for the period the power supply remains off on account of the burning or bursting of the transformers.
Officials Face Heat from Consumers
Call it a strange coincidence that two GMs, names withheld here, sipped water and water while responding to the queries or demands of the consumers.
Their sipping water at the podium drew caustic comments from the modest gathering of the consumers.
Both the GMs used bottled water to drench their throat. One GM said he had a bad throat, and the other GM said he was unwell but for the Jan Sunwai he came.
The consumers painted it as ‘Bijli vibhag nay pani pee pee kar jawab diya’. The consumers remained firm with their No to tariff hikes of any kind giving the Commission a tough time.
Tariff hike in times of freebies is a very unpopular decision and it was seen today here in Daltonganj at the Jan Sunwai of the JSERC.
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Smooth Proceedings but No Special Treatment for Palamu
The Commission members, one technical and the other of the law side had a word of praise for the Daltonganj electricity set up for a very peaceful and meaningful Jan Sunwai as one member said “There used to be boisterous scenes in such a Jan Sunwai but here in Daltonganj, it’s fair and peaceful.”
GM Daltonganj Sunil Kumar, executive engineer Santosh Kumar and a battery of electricity engineers and staff had endeavoured hard to have a smooth sailing in the Jan Sunwai.
The JSERC members made it clear that Palamu is like any other remaining 23 districts in the state where things move as it moves in other districts and hence any favour to this district is out of question.
A consumer rose to tell that the electricity department indulges in an extravaganza where there is a wasteful expenditure. It was immediately countered by the JBVNL saying the electricity department works in austerity and with just 30 to 40 per cent of the workforce.
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Concerns Over Smart Meters and Cost Burden
The consumers have a fear of smart meters billing faster and erratically to which JBVNL authorities discounted saying it’s not like that and in the event of smart meter giving inflated billing then there is an empanelled agency to set it right.
However, the JBVNL authorities didn’t say who will bear the cost of repair of the erratic smart meter, the electricity department or the consumer.
