HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) is expected to take a final decision on the pending FSA (Fuel Surcharge Adjustment) issue within a week from the date of completion of the fourth public hearing scheduled to take place at its office in Singareni Bhavan on November 30.The four power distribution companies (Discoms) _ CPDCL, EPDCL, NPDCL and SPDCL _ have claimed the fuel surcharge adjustment for the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 which works out to be a total of `4,622 crore (`3,139 crore for 2008-09 and `1,483 crore for 2009-10). The Discoms urged the APERC to condone the inordinate delay in filing the claim for FSA.It is learnt that the APERC, in its order dated June 5, 2010, permitted the four Discoms to collect a sum of `1,649 crore from non-agricultural consumers towards FSA for the year 2008-09. However, it was set aside by the High Court in July 2011, following filing of hundreds of writ petitions challenging its order. The court held that the power coordination committee had no locus standi to file applications claiming FSA on behalf of the four Discoms.The court also held that the provisions of the Electricity Reforms Act and the rules framed by the commission categorically showed that the hearing was not only provided for but was also mandated since the determination of FSA affected the rights and obligations of the petitioners.It further held that there was an obligation for the commission to conduct a hearing before exercising any discretionary powers. At previous hearings conducted by the APERC, the participants, including lawyers on behalf of industries, journalists, members representing FAPCCI and others, urged the commission not to impose agricultural component of FSA on non-agricultural consumers. They wanted to bring in agricultural power consumption also within the ambit of FSA and it is for the government to provide additional subsidy to agricultural consumers towards FSA. Already, the government is implementing free power supply policy to benefit the farming community. Besides, they also wanted the commission to work out FSA per Kwh to different categories/slabs of consumers in proportion to the tariffs applicable to them to ensure provision for cross-subsidy on the lines of tariffs fixed by the commission. In all, majority of the participants urged the commission to reject the claims of FSA filed by the Discoms.
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