Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the state has no role in fixing electricity tariffs, while addressing bill controversies. He highlighted TERC’s tariff process, consumer concerns, smart meter failures, and alleged audit irregularities linked to an Rs 80.07-crore work order issued during the previous Left government.
Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday said the state government has no role in determining electricity tariffs, while acknowledging growing concerns among consumers over electricity bills and assuring that steps will be taken to address genuine difficulties.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Nath explained that electricity tariff fixation in Tripura is handled by the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC), an independent regulatory body. He said the state government does not participate in the tariff-setting process and that the entire mechanism is governed by the regulatory commission and the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).
According to Nath, before deciding electricity tariffs, TERC issues detailed notifications through the media and invites suggestions, demands and objections from individuals, organisations and other stakeholders. After considering the submissions, the Commission finalises its recommendations, which are then forwarded to the Power Corporation for implementation.
The Power Corporation subsequently prepares electricity bills by incorporating the tariff approved by the Commission along with fixed charges and the Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA), Nath explained. He said this system has been followed by the Power Corporation since 2008.
The minister acknowledged that electricity consumers across the state have expressed dissatisfaction over power bills and tariff-related issues. He said the government is aware of the concerns and is committed to taking positive measures to protect consumer interests.
Nath also referred to a recent meeting on the electricity bill controversy held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. He said the government is examining the concerns and would hold further discussions to find ways to provide relief to consumers facing abnormal bills.
The minister further stated that departmental officials at different levels have been instructed not to collect electricity bills from consumers who have received abnormally high bills since May this year until the matter is thoroughly investigated.
“The government cannot be a silent spectator. Soon, we will sit again to solve the problem and see how to help the consumers,” Nath said.
Providing details of the state’s electricity consumer base, Nath said Tripura currently has around 10.68 lakh electricity consumers. More than four lakh households have already been provided with smart meters, while approximately 1.64 lakh households have been equipped with prepaid meters.
The Power Minister also raised questions over the implementation of a smart meter installation project undertaken during the previous Left Front government. He said a work order worth Rs 80.07 crore was issued in 2015 for the installation of smart meters, with the project originally scheduled to be completed within two years.
Nath alleged that the project experienced significant delays and implementation-related problems. Referring to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report covering the period from March 2015 to June 2022, he claimed that none of the meters installed under the work order was functional at the time referenced by the audit findings.
According to Nath, the 2015 work order was awarded to Wipro and M/s J and J Powercom System Limited. He alleged that although the project was supposed to be completed within two years, the supply of equipment and symbolic commencement of work occurred even after 27 months.
The minister further claimed that out of approximately 43,000 smart meters installed under the project, only around 34,300 were functioning initially. He said these meters also stopped functioning within three months due to technical problems.
Nath cited audit observations regarding the financial aspects of the project, alleging that irregularities resulted in an expenditure of Rs 42.76 crore becoming infructuous. He also alleged that the audit report pointed to undue favour being extended to the contractor.
The minister used the issue to attack the opposition, accusing it of overlooking its past record while attempting to create confusion among electricity consumers over the current bill controversy.
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The allegations surrounding the earlier smart meter project have added another dimension to the ongoing debate over electricity billing and metering in Tripura. While the government has maintained that tariff fixation is the responsibility of the independent regulatory commission, consumer concerns have increasingly focused on unusually high bills, metering accuracy and the functioning of smart and prepaid meters.
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Nath said the government would continue to examine the complaints and work towards resolving the problems faced by consumers. He reiterated that the administration would not remain a silent spectator and would consider appropriate measures after reviewing the issues associated with abnormal electricity bills.
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The minister’s remarks come amid heightened public attention over electricity charges in the state, with the government seeking to distinguish the tariff-setting process from the operational and billing responsibilities of the Power Corporation while also highlighting alleged shortcomings in an earlier smart meter installation project.
