NHPC to receive over Rs 1,000-cr dues from power distribution companies

NEW DELHI: Various power distribution companies owe more than Rs 1,000 crore to the government-owned hydro power producer National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the electricity purchases. This is forcing the power producer to regulate the supply at a time when the country is facing acute electricity crunch.

NHPC Chairman and Managing Director ABL Srivastava said that the health of discoms is a matter of concern for NHPC. The discoms are primarily from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The most of the dues were to come from discoms in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi's two discoms - BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna – owned nearly Rs 335 crore while UP discom has dues of about Rs 400 crore.

The dues from Rajasthan discom is nearly Rs 100 crore while that from Bihar is about Rs 50 crore.

The Planning Commissions had constituted Shunglu panel last year for state electricity board (SEB) reforms and also to look into the financial health of discoms. The panel pegged accumulated loss of discoms at Rs 82,000 crore during the 2006-10 period.

The Finance Ministry, Power Ministry and the Planning Commission are working in co-ordination for restructuring the debt liabilities of discoms.
Meanwhile, NHPC plans to commission 1,200 MW of capacity during the current financial year. At present, NHPC has an installed capacity of over 5,100 MW.