Uttarakhand approves open access system for industries

Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has given its go ahead to the open access system under which power can be purchased from any power distribution company in the country.With the industrial output being affected due to 10 to 12 hour long power cut, few industries had approached the UERC to buy power from other than the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) under the open access system. UERC had already approved terms and conditions for open access. However, the state did not witness any single case for open access during the past few years.

But this year, some industries approached the commission and sought permission to purchase power from outside the state.

The hallmark of the open access is that consumers will not (not) have to pay the transmission charges, wheeling charges, cross subsidy and additional charges if they purchase electricity during the load-shedding period, said UERC Chairman V J Talwar. "So far, nearly 10-12 industries like La Opala and Greenply have approached us," said Talwar.

Under the new system, open access has been permitted to any consumer which is connected to distribution system of UPCL at 11 KVA and above.

The access has been divided in three broader categories viz short term ranging from the day to one month, medium term open access ranging from 3 months to 3 years and long term ranging from 12 years to 25 years.

All open access customers would have to bear average transmission losses as specified in the tariff orders from time to time.