Reduction in consumer tariff due to better power purchase management of UPCL
Reduction in consumer tariff due to better power purchase management of UPCL
Dehradun , Nov 18
Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) has claimed that reduction in consumer tariff has been possible due to better power purchase management. It further said that UPCL has always been committed to the availability of electricity of best quality and at reasonable rates to the electricity consumers of the state. Despite the ever-increasing demand and challenging competitive conditions in the market, UPCL is determined to maintain the continuous supply of electricity to every village, every household in the entire state. Under the leadership of Managing Director Anil Kumar Yadav, UPCL has succeeded in maintaining smooth power supply in sparse-continuous industries, cities, remote villages across the state.
UPCL has adopted an innovative power purchase strategy and in the financial year 2023-24, as compared to the financial year 2022-23, cheap electricity has been obtained from the short term market at a record 22 percent lower rate. It is worth noting that in the financial year 2022-23, the average short term power purchase of UPCL was Rs 6.86 per unit, which has come down by 22 percent to Rs 5.35 per unit in the last financial year 2023-24.
The electricity tariff of consumers has been reduced by getting cheap electricity from the market, as a result of which it has been possible to provide smooth power supply at low rates across the state. Due to the reduction in the average short term power purchase price, the overall power purchase rate has also come down by 2.92 percent from Rs 5.48 per unit in the financial year 2022-23 to Rs 5.32 per unit in the last financial year 2023-24.
UPCL has reduced the electricity bills of consumers only due to better power purchase management. A total rebate of Rs 324 crore (Rs 39.06 crore (Rs 0.30 per unit) in the month of July, 2024, Rs 67.10 crore (Rs 0.52 per unit) in the month of August, 2024, Rs 28.88 crore (Rs 0.23 per unit) in the month of September, 2024, Rs 84.19 crore (Rs 0.70 per unit) in the month of October, 2024 and Rs 104.49 crore (Rs 0.88 per unit) in the month of November, 2024) has also been given. The amount of savings made in the cost of electricity purchase is being passed on to the consumers on a monthly basis in the form of discount in electricity bills, which has been recorded category wise from a minimum of 26 paise to a maximum of 101 paise per unit, the details of which are as follows:-
Consumer Category Per Unit Discount, Domestic 26 paisa to 70 paisa, Non-Domestic 101 paisa, Government Public Utility 95 paisa, Private Tubewell 31 paisa, Agricultural Activities 43 paisa,LT Industry 94 paisa, HT Industry 94 paisa, Mixed Load 88 paisa, Railway Traction 88 paisa and EV Charging Station 84 paisa.
Apart from this, the total estimated electricity demand on tomorrow, 18.11.2024 is 40.13 million units, in which the total electricity availability from various sources is about 31.47 million units. There will be availability of 7.41 million units from the state and 22.16 million units from the central pool against the total estimated demand. As per the above, no power cuts are expected from UPCL level tomorrow. In order to provide smooth power supply to the esteemed consumers, in case of any unavoidable situation of shortage of power, power will be purchased in real time.
