The Lotha Lower Range Public Organization (LLRPO) has urged the Department of Power to review the recent hike in fixed electricity charges under the Communitization of Electricity system, while demanding transparency on the basis and methodology used to determine the revised rates.
In a representation to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Department of Power, Sanis, LLRPO president John Murry and vice president Yansathung Jami said the fixed charge for VEMBs had reportedly been increased from Rs. 210 to Rs. 260, while charges under other categories, earlier ranging from around Rs. 400 to Rs. 430, had reportedly risen to approximately Rs. 520.
The Organisation said while it understood the Department’s responsibility to maintain the electricity system, the economic condition of rural households should be taken into consideration before imposing additional financial burdens.
The LLRPO pointed out that many rural families depend on agriculture and irregular daily-wage employment, while elderly persons often have little or no independent income.
It said an increase in fixed electricity charges could have a disproportionate impact on such households, particularly those already struggling to meet basic expenses such as food and medicines.
The Organisation therefore called for a review of the proposed hike and sought a data-based justification from the Department.
Seeks three years’ revenue and consumption data
The LLRPO has asked the Department to disclose the number of households and VEMBs covered in each concerned area and the corresponding revenue collected during the last three financial years.
It also sought clarification on whether the revised charges were applicable specifically to the Lotha Lower Range and Lotha Middle Range areas or to rural areas across Nagaland.
The Organisation further asked whether the hike was based on revenue deficit, cost of supply, power purchase costs, distribution expenses, technical losses or a gap between electricity supplied and electricity actually consumed or billed.
It demanded disclosure of the formula, logic and methodology used to arrive at the revised charges of Rs. 260 and Rs. 520.
The LLRPO also sought details of the total electricity units supplied, consumed and billed in the concerned areas, along with the corresponding revenue gap, if any.
Seeks local benefit from Doyang project
Highlighting Wokha’s contribution to Nagaland’s power generation, the Organisation pointed out that the district hosts the 75-MW Doyang Hydroelectric Project, one of the State’s major power-generating assets.
It said the Government of India has confirmed that Nagaland receives 12% of the electricity generated from Doyang free of cost as part of the power-sharing arrangement.
It noted that communities in the project area have made significant contributions and sacrifices in terms of land and resources and have also experienced socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with the project.
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Against this backdrop, the LLRPO requested the Department and State Government to examine whether a portion of the State’s free-power benefit from Doyang could be utilised to provide preferential or subsidised electricity, or a dedicated local-area benefit, to project-affected and host communities in Wokha.
The Organisation argued that instead of increasing the burden on rural consumers, the State could consider a mechanism through which communities hosting major power projects receive tangible benefits.
Infrastructure gaps need to be addressed
The LLRPO also called for an assessment of infrastructure and operational constraints affecting electricity supply in the area.
It sought information on transformer capacity and failures, distribution-line deficiencies, technical and distribution losses, shortage of manpower, office and field-level operational constraints and other factors contributing to unreliable power supply.
The Organisation said the LLRPO and Lotha Middle Range Public Organization (LMRPO) were willing to cooperate with the Department in bringing identified infrastructure gaps before the Government for appropriate intervention and funding.
It maintained that deficiencies in infrastructure and operations should not ultimately be recovered from rural consumers.
Three-day power outage cited
Questioning the timing of the proposed hike, the organisation said consumers were more willing to pay when they received reliable electricity service.
It cited a recent instance when there was reportedly no electricity supply for three consecutive days, and questioned whether consumers should receive a proportionate adjustment or rebate when prolonged disruptions occur.
The LLRPO argued that a fixed charge should not effectively become a charge for electricity service that was not delivered.
The Organisation clarified that rural consumers were not unwilling to pay electricity charges.
It said consultations had already been held with VEMBs, LLRPO, LMRPO and other local representatives, and maintained that the primary concerns of consumers were reliable power supply, transparent calculations and a tariff structure reflecting their actual capacity to pay.
The LLRPO urged the Department to furnish the requested data and details and reconsider the proposed hike, saying a factual, logical and transparent approach would help optimise and streamline the Communitization system.
