Aptel pulls up state power regulators

New Delhi: The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Aptel) has made state power regulators liable to explain delay in tariff revisions, inadequate compensation to distribution companies and deferred revenue over the last three financial years.

“We direct all the state and joint regulatory commissions to furnish the necessary information to the secretary of the Forum of Regulators, who shall, in turn, file compilation of compliance reports before this tribunal,” Aptel ordered on Monday. It has the October 31 deadline for the submission.

The bench, comprising Aptel chairperson Manjula Chellur and technical members SD Dubey and Ravindra Kumar Verma, passed the order based on recommendations of eight amicus curiae. The bench had on September 8 appointed eight independent legal professionals or amicus curiae to assist the court in resolving the issues plaguing the power sector. The next hearing is on November 1. Government data shows Rs 52,546 crore outstanding payments to power companies at the end of June.