CERC draft sets stern norms for domestic power producers

11 Dec 2013 Evaluate

In a big sign of disappointment to domestic power producers, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) announced draft tariff criteria for the power sector for 2014-19. The draft is likely to impact the domestic power companies such as NTPC, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam and NHPC as the CERC has proposed to remove the tax arbitrage, which will ease power tariffs.

Furthermore, the CERC has also proposed tightening of operating norms for power producing and transmission companies by shifting incentives to their plant load factor (PLF) from the plant available factor (PAF). The proposed change is set to increase, bringing in relief for power generation companies through linking incentives to actual power generated and the PLF, the capacity at which the plant is operating. Meanwhile, it would adversely impact the state-run producers such as NTPC, whose existing incentives are linked to their available capacity for the State electricity boards (SEBs). The private power players have been permitted to raise tariffs. At presently, PLFs of most power generators have fallen below 70 percent due to coal availability issues. Meanwhile, the final guidelines will be prepared in early 2014, after getting the relevant industry feedback.

Concerned over the recently announced power tariff criteria, state run power produces NTPC stated that the regulator, which is a statutory body to encourage development of the power sector, will not dis-incentivise or de-motivate the largest power generating company in the country.  NTPC has been rated as number one company in the world in terms of capacity utilization and generates 27 per cent of electricity in the country with 18 per cent of the installed capacity.

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