After free water, AAP slashes energy tariffs in Delhi

[temujin]

Kejriwal cuts power tariff, millions to benefit - The Times of India

Kejriwal cuts power tariff, millions to benefit

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday fulfilled his second major election promise and cut power tariff by half to benefit an estimated 28 lakh households.

Kejriwal, who took oath on Saturday, also suggested an audit into the power companies in the capital, giving them time until Wednesday morning to file their objections if any.

The CM said that those consuming up to 400 units — 0 to 200 units and 201 to 400 units — of electricity a month would get 50 per cent subsidy.

The new power rates will go into effect from January 1 (Wednesday).

This would benefit some 28 of the 34 lakh households in Delhi, he added after a cabinet meeting, describing the intended beneficiaries as the poor and the middle class.

Tuesday's decision came a day after he announced that 667 litres of water would be provided free to all households in the capital who have metered connections.

Kejriwal, whose AAP made providing water and drastically cutting power rates its main election promise, also met Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) Shashi Kant Sharma to seek an audit of the power companies.

Kejriwal told the media that his government would wait for the responses from the companies before taking a final decision on audit.

"By tomorrow evening we will decide whether to go for audit or not," he said.

He estimated that the revision in electricity tariff would cost the government Rs 200 crore but Rs 140 crore of this would be borne by the power companies against their outstandings.

Kejriwal seeks CAG audit of Delhi discoms

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday asked the state's electricity distribution companies to state their objections to their likely audit by the nation's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

"We have given notice to power companies for audit. Power companies have been asked to send their reply on why there shouldn't be an audit, by tomorrow (Wednesday)," the CM told reporters here after meeting CAG Shashi Kant Sharma to discuss the issue ahead of a meeting of the Delhi cabinet.

"Delhi government is of the view that audit of these companies can be done. But under the provisions of law, the three companies were being given the opportunity of being heard on the government audit of their finances," Kejriwal told reporters ahead of the meeting.

"They are being given time till tomorrow morning by which they will have to give their representations," he added.

The three discoms in question — Reliance companies BSES, BSES Rajdhani (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna (BYPL) — have had their accounts described earlier by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as being "fudged and unreliable" and thus untrustworthy regarding their revenues situation.

AAP had also earlier demanded that tariffs should only be increased after the companies' audit by the nation's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).



I am sure this would be challenged in courts which would nicely play into AAP's anti statist, anti corporate narrative...Kejriwal's gameplan is becoming clearer by the day.

Edit: Just noticed this is to be funded through a subsidy with the power companies picking up the tab-still likely to end up in court though.

 

[IndoCarib]

Just populism , nothing else. There is no such thing as free lunch. Someone has to pay. When the bill comes to Kejriwal's door he will know he was being stupid.

 

[Leader]

hats off to AAP. great start !!

 

[Victory]

Nailed it

 

[Indischer]

Just populism , nothing else. There is no such thing as free lunch. Someone has to pay. When the bill comes to Kejriwal's door he will know he was being stupid.

The man was also a Revenue Officer. He obviously will have a few plans on generating revenues for his 'populist' ventures (I see them as measures that the Govt should have taken long back).

Also, refraining from corruption and other malpractices is also going to benefit the exchequer in a big way, should he live up to his promise.

 

[temujin]

Just populism , nothing else. There is no such thing as free lunch. Someone has to pay. When the bill comes to Kejriwal's door he will know he was being stupid.

AK is playing the long game..he is perfectly happy to p**s money up the wall for he knows there would be someone cleaning up after him. Sooner or later he will be outsed from office, which will then be conveniently attributed to a politcal elite-corporate conspiracy. If such unfunded freebies are challenged through the courts, AK will blame vile capitalist forces. If subsequent goverments attempt to restore fiscal responsibility, he'll accuse them of being anti aam aadmi. AK's sole objective is to secure his short term appeal through populism in order to create the right political climate that would favour his social anarchist agenda in time for the general elections.

 

[temujin]

The man was also a Revenue Officer. He obviously will have a few plans on generating revenues for his 'populist' ventures (I see them as measures that the Govt should have taken long back).

Also, refraining from corruption and other malpractices is also going to benefit the exchequer in a big way, should he live up to his promise.

Perhaps he should have waited for the results of the CAG audit before deciding to cut tariffs. AK is basing his actions on the sweeping assumption that all corporates are corrupt, which appears motivated more by ideology rather than a realistic assessment of facts. I am not arguing against greater corporate transparency but AK is breaking every legal covenant that exists between the private and public sector in a manner that is likely to undermine business confidence and affect inward investment in the future.

Having said that, I may be underestimating AK-maybe his Delhi does not need big companies after all as, under AAP's grand vision, Mohalla Sabhas could be tasked with generating and supplying electricity locally.

 

[madooxno9]

Well these electricity bills are inflated well known fact and they needed to be audited. I guess AAP is not here for short term game. They have things planned from 2011 . I believe , if they will not fall prey to dirty politics of BJP & Cong. , they will stay long and spread in other states.

 

[Indischer]

Perhaps he should have waited for the results of the CAG audit before deciding to cut tariffs. AK is basing his actions on the sweeping assumption that all corporates are corrupt, which appears motivated more by ideology rather than a realistic assessment of facts. I am not arguing against greater corporate transparency but AK is breaking every legal covenant that exists between the private and public sector in a manner that is likely to undermine business confidence and affect inward investment in the future.

Having said that, I may be underestimating AK-maybe his Delhi does not need big companies after all as, under AAP's grand vision, Mohalla Sabhas could be tasked with generating and supplying electricity locally.

ALL Ministries are corrupt.Its not like Corporates want to willfully offer bribes. If bribes aren't accepted, I am of the opinion that it will attract greater corporate investment.

 

[halupridol]

kuch bhi kaho,, bande ne dil jeet liya yaar!!!!


only time will show.......

 

[Android]

Any updates on Kejirival's latest body temperature, blood pressure, type of his shit etc

 

[Bhai Zakir]

hats off to AAP. great start !!

First of all the heading is misleading as Delhi govt. don't have the power to slash rates as its the domain of DERC. Delhi govt. can oly provide the subsidy. In simple word it can't reduce the power tariff but it can pay for the public from the public money.

1.) Nothing great about it, as per kejriwal 50% of Delhi don't get tapped water by DJB so the free water will be for 45 lakh people while 1.2 crore will not benefit from it.

2.) Before elections he promised 700 ltrs of free water each day but now giving 667 ltrs not 700 ltrs that too only to 45 lakh people.

3.) The story is same for the power too. Before elections he have said that he will reduce power will by 50% each and every consumer that is factories, offices, shops and domestic consumers will get power at 50% price. But now only reduced for the consumers for 0-200 units and 200-400 units.

4.) These section of people were already getting subsidy by the congress @ 25% he have just extends it to 50%.

 

[Indischer]

Any updates on Kejirival's latest body temperature, blood pressure, type of his shit etc

How is that relevant here? Not in good taste buddy.

First of all the heading is misleading as Delhi govt. don't have the power to slash rates as its the domain of DERC. Delhi govt. can oly provide the subsidy. In simple word it can't reduce the power tariff but it can pay for the public from the public money.

1.) Nothing great about it, as per kejriwal 50% of Delhi don't get tapped water by DJB so the free water will be for 45 lakh people while 1.2 crore will not benefit from it.

2.) Before elections he promised 700 ltrs of free water each day but now giving 667 ltrs not 700 ltrs that too only to 45 lakh people.

3.) The story is same for the power too. Before elections he have said that he will reduce power will by 50% each and every consumer that is factories, offices, shops and domestic consumers will get power at 50% price. But now only reduced for the consumers for 0-200 units and 200-400 units.

4.) These section of people were already getting subsidy by the congress @ 25% he have just extends it to 50%.

We have given some Parties entire decades a chance to provide good Governance and never asked such questions on accountability as stated in their manifestos.

Now, we don't seem to have patience to even spare a month or two for some parties to prove themselves.

Why this double standards, Bhaijaan??

 

[KRAIT]

More wastage will occur while people in rural areas suffer.

Giving freebies before elections, how is he different than Congress in Rajasthan or SP in UP ?

 

[temujin]

More wastage will occur while people in rural areas suffer.

Giving freebies before elections, how is he different than Congress in Rajasthan or SP in UP ?

Congress/SP are parties of opportunists and power grabbers whereas a pernicious radical left ideology forms the basis of AAP. Leaders of INC and SP are merely interested in personal enrichment and perpetuating dynastic politics unlike Kejju and Co who see dismantling of the Indian state as the logical endpoint of their struggle.