NRPC rebukes J&K for power dues defaults

Srinagar, May 12: In a significant regulatory rebuke, the Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC) has revealed that Jammu & Kashmir has consistently neglected to clear deviation and reactive energy charges, payments that are mandatorily due within 10 days under the DSM Regulations.
NRPC said that the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC) is operating and maintaining the ‘Northern Region Pool Account’ for deviation charges, Reactive Energy Charges and Congestion Charges in accordance with provisions under various CERC Regulations.
It also said that as per the regulations the payment to the statutory pool account have high priority and the concerned utilities are required to pay the indicated amounts within 10 days of issue of weekly energy account by NRPC secretariat.
“In this regard, it is submitted that J&K has not been making regular payments of Deviation Charges and Reactive Energy Charges in accordance with the Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) Regulations.” NRPC said.
In the meantime, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have informed the NRPC that the Union Territory is expecting no power crunch in summer in view of increased hydel energy output.
The officials have also informed the committee that that the Power Development Department is expecting less power demand in coming months.
NRPC has said, “J&K representative informed that with the availability of hydro power and low demand in summer months, power position in J&K is expected to be comfortable.”
Meanwhile, NRPC said that, “Due to inadequate reactive compensation in J&K STU network, severe low voltages have been observed in J&K grid.” (KNO)