New Delhi, June 1, 2006

Press Release

Don’t get misled : Pay your bills on time

BSES urges its esteemed consumers not to get mis-led by a few individuals who are indulging in a propaganda which is contrary to the law of the land and in direct contravention of the directives of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Cautioning its consumers against some vested interests who advocate payment of 50 % of their electricity bills, a BSES spokesperson said: “BSES has no mandate to receive any payment if a consumer unilaterally deducts 50 % of the billed amount. Each and every consumer has to pay for the energy (electricity) he/she has consumed and as per tariff fixed by the honourable DERC.”

Saying that these peoples’ reason “why should a honest consumer pay for power theft done by others” as skewed and irresponsible, the spokesman said: “The tariff is fixed after considering many parameters, including theft. We would appeal to the consumers to help us eliminate the menace of theft, more so because Delhi, despite our efforts to minimise theft, remains the country’s power theft capital.” It may be mentioned that power theft in Mumbai and many other cities in single digit whereas it is around 35 % in Delhi, down from over 60 % in 2002.

Saying that BSES is committed to minimise power theft, the spokesperson further said: “Since privitisation in July 2002, BSES has undertaken around 37,000 anti-power theft raids and an electricity load of more than 1.9 lakh KW has been booked. BSES has also over achieved the AT & C loss reduction targets fixed by the DERC – both by minimising theft and through improvements/modernisation of its distribution system. Since the menace of power theft is a social issue, all stakeholders should come together to jointly fight the evil. Thus BSES appeals to its honest and paying consumers to join the crusade against power theft.”

As the propaganda for 50 % payment is flawed, BSES explains why:

• The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is the statutory authority to determine tariff in accordance with the provisions of Electricity Act, 2003. DERC determines the retail supply tariffs payable by consumers.
• DERC determines the tariff after a due process of inviting responses from the public and holding public hearings etc and taking into account all relevant factors including the reduction in the loss levels. This practice is followed by other State Electricity Regulatory Commissions also.
• The retail tariff is determined for an entire licensed area of a licensee and not parts of it. All consumers in a licensed area will have to pay the same tariff charge.
• The distribution companies have to recover the electricity charges as per the retail tariff fixed by the DERC in terms of the Electricity Act and DERC regulations in force. Therefore, the right forum for taking up any matter relating to tariff charges is the DERC.
• Consumers have the responsibility to pay electricity bills as per approved tariff in full and in time.
• Payment of electricity bills and default thereof is governed by the Act and the DERC regulations as the discoms have to enforce the same for recovery of charges.

BSES, Delhi’s premier power distribution company, is committed to ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply to all its consumers.  . 

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