Yet another power shock

• APERC gives nod for collecting Rs 609 crore as FSA
• 2.2 crore consumers to pay Discoms 54.70 paise per unit on 11,139 million units used in the third quarter of 2012-13 fiscal

Hyderabad : Hardly a month after hiking power charges by 20 per cent, the AP Electricity Regulation Commission (APERC) on Wednesday gave nod to Discoms to collect Rs 609.30 crore FSA from consumers for the third quarter ( October, November and December) of 2012-13.

Consumers should pay 54.70 paise additionally on each unit they consumed during this period through their power bills in the three months from July to September. A The power utilities submitted proposals to the Commission urging it to permit them to collect 1068.28 FSA (costing each unit 95.59 paise) in December 2012. After conducting public hearing, the Commission finalised Rs 609 crore as FSA to be collected from over 2.2 crore consumers (domestic, commercial and industries) in the state.

As per the Commission orders, the APCPDCL will collect Rs 271.37 crore as FSA, EPDCL (Rs 126.21 crore), NPDCL (Rs 71.81 crore) and the APSPDCL will collect Rs 139.99 crore through power bills from July. The Commission permitted the Discoms to collect the FSA on 11,139 mu (million units) consumed during October to December last year.

It may be mentioned here that In March 2013, the Commission permitted the Discoms to collect Rs 753 crore FSA putting 95 paise additional cost per unit on the consumed power for the second quarter of 2012-13. The utilities were collecting the FSA from April.