JERC holds public hearing regarding determination of tariff for FY 2023-24 in respect of PDD Leh

Leh, August 19: Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for UT of J&K and Ladakh conducted a public hearing regarding the determination of tariff for the FY 2023-24 in respect of Ladakh Power Development Department (LPDD) at DC Conference Hall today.

Hon’ble Chairman JERC, Sh. Lokesh D Jha presided over the Public hearing along with Member (Finance) JERC, Mohd Rafi Andrabi, and Secretary, JERC, RK Dhar.

The Commission with LPDD presented the Tariff Petition of LPDD for the year 2023-24 and business plan for next year. Thereafter heard the grievances of the public delegations of various organisations pertaining to issues such as request for considering industrial tariffs for hotels and guest houses and also requested UT administration to subsidise tariffs of Hotels and guest houses.

Representatives of the Merchant Association requested not to hike the tariff of commercial category.

Hon’ble Chairman JERC emphasised that the department should allow the consumers to review their grievances every Saturday at PDD office to resolve any issues that can be resolved.

He further urged the stakeholders to send their grievances or any issues in writing to JERC and submit them to the office of Secretary JERC J&K and Ladakh or through Chief Engineer PDD Leh.

He also directed the department to spread awareness about the various schemes by releasing press releases.

Earlier, LPDD Leh, in a detailed presentation, briefed about the petition for approval of True-up of FY 2019-20, FY 2020-21 & FY 2021-22, and the Annual Performance Review of FY 2022-23 covering the overall overview of UT Ladakh, sources of supply, major activities undertaken by the department and AT&C losses as well as O&M expenses, etc. The presentation also briefed the participants about petition for approval of Business Plan for the control period of FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 for the department which covered various schemes for Ladakh, RDSS revamped Distribution sector plan as well as PMDP transmission schemes.

The meeting was also attended by Administrative Secretary, PDD Leh, Ravinder Kumar; Secretary, JERC, VK Dhar; DC Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve; Chief Engineer, PDD, Tsewang Paljor along with members of All Ladakh Hotel & Guest House Association; Merchant Association; officials from the AAI, MES, ITBP, PDD department and others.