PANJIM: The Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in its submission to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission thanked Government of Goa for providing budgetary support of Rs 360.13 crore for FY 2022-23 and not increasing the tariff.
However, it warned that in the year 2024-25, the revenue gap (based on commercial accounting) is expected to be Rs 651 crore (24 per cent of annual recurring revenue – ARR) which may lead to tariff shock.
JERC will be having its online public hearing on Monday. GCCI have requested JERC to recommend Goa government to reduce electricity duty to Rs 0.40 per kwh.
Also, in case the electricity bills are not paid within the due date mentioned on the bill, delayed payment charges of two per cent (computed on daily basis on outstanding bill from the due date till date of payment) are levied on the bill amount. ED Goa proposed to continue to levy 2 per cent per month (works out to 27.1 per cent per annum). Considering the current economic situation and prevailing bank interest rates of 8 per cent, GCCI has requested the Commission to reduce it to 0.5 per cent per month cumulative which is below the working capital interest rate.
GCCI mentioned that street lighting within a compound (residential complex, commercial complex, etc) to be charged at residential, commercial, industrial rates, etc on the basis of associated activity. It suggested to avoid categorisation of street lighting charges in residential complex at commercial rates.
In its letter to the JERC the industry body has also requested the JERC to publish the data on quality and reliability of power. The projected load growth is less than 3 per cent. The energy sale is less because of low reliability in power supply. The reliability is poor. The unreliability of power is affecting industrial units and also acting as a deterrent for new investments in Goa. In some areas power to industry is supplied for 7800 hrs in a year. Goa has high consumption of diesel since DG sets are used to generate power.
