The Hindu : New Delhi News : Power charges raised

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Monday, Dec 31, 2007
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New Delhi

Power charges raised

Rates last increased in April this year

NEW DELHI: Power sector regulator CERC has raised Unscheduled Interchange charges for overdrawing power from the national grid by state utilities to a maximum of Rs.10 a kWh against the earlier Rs.7.45 per unit.

The maximum UI rate has been increased to Rs.10 per unit when the frequency goes below the permissible limit of 49 Hz at a given point of time.

Reason for hike

The move to raise charges is aimed at discouraging overdrawing power from the grid and encourage underdrawls.

UI rates or differential tariff is applicable when variations in power intake or supply take place. CERC had last increased this ceiling rate from Rs.5.70 per KWh to Rs.7.45 a unit in April this year.

The regulator had also brought electricity generated by a station during its trial run, called infirm power, under differential tariff rates to be determined on the basis of demand. “Infirm power shall be accounted as Unscheduled Interchange and paid for from the regional/state UI pool account at the applicable frequency-linked UI rate,” it said in a statement.

Any revenue earned by the generating company from sale of infirm power shall be applied for reduction in capital cost of the project and not to be treated as revenue, it added.

Free to deviate

However, the Commission has said that hydro power stations would be free to deviate from the given schedule “as long as they do not indulge in gaming and do not cause a transmission constraint.”

The regulator has asked the Regional Load Dispatch Centres to check whether the stations are declaring the capacity and energy sincerely. — PTI

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