Cement, Energy & Environment

This following presidential directive issued earlier on April 3 where- in CIL was mandated to sign FSAs with power production assuring them a supply trigger level of atleast BO per cent of the committed coal delivery. The Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on June 21 had asked CIL to sign FSAs for a total capacity of 78, OOOMW, including cases of tapering linkages, which are likely to be commissioned by March 31 , 2015. A top coal Minister official said , of 78, 000 MW, supplying fuel to 60 , OOOMW capacity had already been agreed between coal and power ministers. The additional capacity of 70, OOOMW would also get assured fuel supply, and 11 ,000MW would get tapering linkages. To meet its remaining obligations under FSA, CIL may import coal and supply thermal power plants on cost plus basis, the country's apex decision making body had said. The CCEA had approved the price pooling (of domestic impact of over ~ 4, 000 crore for power plants and lead to increase in electricity costs by upwards of 13 paise per unit. The purpose behind the price pooling is to have one notified price for each grade of coal, whether domestic or imported. Courtesy: The Financial Express, New Delhi 14.08.2013 POWER DEFICIT STATES CAN GET ELECTRICITY FROM SURPLUS REGIONS The Government today said power surplus States can transfer surplus electricity to ones grappling with shortage through a new system . "The surplus power from the States can be transferred to power deficit States through the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) from the source of supply between the point of supply and point of drawl," an official statement said. "The Central Government through Electricity Act (2003), trading mechanism and Power Exchange in accordance with the relevant regulations notified by CERC facilitate this process, " the statement said . National Grid, for evacuation of power from generating sources located in different regions in the country and facil– itating transfer of power from surplus to deficit regions, is in place, it said. In addition, licenses have been granted for trading of power. Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line, New Delhi, 21.05.2013 HIKE IN POWER TARIFF BY STATE ERCS The Himachal Pradesh Electricity regularly commission has hiked power tariffs for 201 3-14 by up 16 per cent for all categories. The tariff for domestic consumers (except below poverty line[BPL] households) have been linked by 16 per cent while for industrial and commercial consumers, they have been increased by 15.47 per cent and 14.2 per cent respectively, subsidize tariffs will go up from ~ 1.10 to ~ 1.30 per cent unit for consumption up to 125 units; from ~ 2.20 to ~ 2.70 per unit of consumption between 126 and 250 units; and from ~ 3.25 to ~ 3.95 per unit for consumption above 250 units. The service change for non BPL consumers has also been increased from ~ 30 to ~ 40 per month. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the revised tariff schedule for 203-14 with a tariff hike for almost all consumers categories. Domestic and industrial consumers will have to pay an additional 12 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. The regulator has also introduced a non-telescopic tariff system for domestic consumer using more than 300 units a month. There will be a fixed charge of ~ 20 per month for single-phase connections and ~ 60 for three-phase connections. The agricultural sector has exempted from the hike. The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has hiked power tariffs by an average of 5.21 per cent for 2013-14. For domestic consumers , the monthly fixed charge has been increased by ~ 1; and power rates have gone up from 10 paise per unit to 40 paise per unit. The revised rates will not impact BPL households and domestic consumers who have a monthly consumption of less than 100 units. For small and heavy industries, power rates have been hiked by 15 paise per unit and 20 paise per unit respectively. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has announced average 20 paise per unit hike in power tariffs for 2013-14. For domestic consumers with a monthly consumption of less than 100 units, tariffs have been increased by 20 paise per unit. For consumer using more than 100 units, they have hiked by 25 paise per unit. The amount of subsidy paid by the government towards free supply of electricity has also been increased to ~ 53 .81 billion for 2011 -12 from ~ 47.22 billion in 2012-13. Courtesy: Power Line, Volume 17, No. 9, May 2013 16