Sometimes you get lucky and people get to know about your struggle.
Rediff put this up
http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/oct/09/slide-show-1-meet-the-man-who-took-on-reliance-energy.htm
Feedback is most welcome :)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
My presentation at MERC's Publilc Hearing
Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9E-KdDQ7l0
Its the presentation I made at MERC's Public hearing on Rel Infra's Tariff petition.
Got a copy thru RTI.
Hope this encourages more people to make presentations.
More at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bijlee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9E-KdDQ7l0
Its the presentation I made at MERC's Public hearing on Rel Infra's Tariff petition.
Got a copy thru RTI.
Hope this encourages more people to make presentations.
More at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bijlee
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Reliance Tariff Hike - Public Response
The response that I will be submitting to Reliance is attached here and here
Go through it so that you may understand the issues we are dealing with. I am not a legal expert and the legal fraternity may excuse my attempt at this :)
Anyway, I have attempted to include all the issues that would affect Residential consumers.
The procedure is thus:
1. Fill in your name, postal address tel/mobile and email ID (before you take prints). Details need to be filled on Page 1, Page 2 and Page 19.
2. Before Thurs, March 19th, make sure one copy is delivered to
Mr. Ramesh Shenoy, Company Secretary
Reliance Infrastructure Limited
Reliance Energy Centre
Santa Cruz (E)
Mumbai 400055
You would need to show proof of service so make 2 copies and get one stamped / acknowledged by their office - or retain Fax/courier slip (in which case you may need to do it at least one day earlier). There is no email provided for Reliance - so that makes it a little more difficult for us! However, I tried sending it to ramesh.shenoy@relianceada.com.
3. Make 6 copies of the submission (actually make 7, you will need one for yourself!) and attach the fax/courier/stamped page on all 6 copies and then send it before Thurs Mar 19th, to
The Secretary
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
13th Floor, Centre No. 1, World Trade Centre
Cuffe Parade
Mumbai 400005
Fax: 2216 3976
email: mercindia@mercindia.org.in
To see what really happens, come for the Public Hearing on Thurs Mar 26th at Rangsharda Natya Mandir, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W). The hearing starts at 11am.
Let's try and ensure we get justice done !
- Sandeep.
Go through it so that you may understand the issues we are dealing with. I am not a legal expert and the legal fraternity may excuse my attempt at this :)
Anyway, I have attempted to include all the issues that would affect Residential consumers.
The procedure is thus:
1. Fill in your name, postal address tel/mobile and email ID (before you take prints). Details need to be filled on Page 1, Page 2 and Page 19.
2. Before Thurs, March 19th, make sure one copy is delivered to
Mr. Ramesh Shenoy, Company Secretary
Reliance Infrastructure Limited
Reliance Energy Centre
Santa Cruz (E)
Mumbai 400055
You would need to show proof of service so make 2 copies and get one stamped / acknowledged by their office - or retain Fax/courier slip (in which case you may need to do it at least one day earlier). There is no email provided for Reliance - so that makes it a little more difficult for us! However, I tried sending it to ramesh.shenoy@relianceada.com.
3. Make 6 copies of the submission (actually make 7, you will need one for yourself!) and attach the fax/courier/stamped page on all 6 copies and then send it before Thurs Mar 19th, to
The Secretary
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
13th Floor, Centre No. 1, World Trade Centre
Cuffe Parade
Mumbai 400005
Fax: 2216 3976
email: mercindia@mercindia.org.in
To see what really happens, come for the Public Hearing on Thurs Mar 26th at Rangsharda Natya Mandir, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W). The hearing starts at 11am.
Let's try and ensure we get justice done !
- Sandeep.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Reliance's Proposed Tariff Hike
I have been going through the Reliance Tariff petition and was trying to find out the increase in electricity charges, since Sep 2006 (the past 30 months). I was surprised with the results and decided to prepare a 'calculator' for Reliance customers to realize how much their tariff has gone up in the past 30 months.
I've uploaded the file here on the Bijlee YahooGroup site and you can sign in to access it (scroll down the list to reach the file "Revised_Reliance_Tariff_Calculator.xls).
All you need to do is input your consumption in the yellow box on the first sheet - and the data will appear as to how much you would have paid at various intervals during this time frame. The dates taken are based on the various tariff orders issued by MERC.
I have included the figure of what would happen, if Reliance's current proposal is approved.
Just to give you a few examples:
1. If your consumption is 100 units - in Sep 2006 you would have paid Rs. 205.29, and (if Reliance's proposal is approved) from Apr 2009, you would be paying Rs. 418.76 - a whopping 104% up in 30 months - and average of almost 42% per year (or 3.5% per month)
2. If your consumption is 400 units - in Sep 2006 you would have paid Rs. 1,577.15, and (if Reliance's proposal is approved) from Apr 2009, you would be paying Rs. 2,923.84 - an increase of 85% in 30 months - and average of approx 34% per year (or nearly 2.9% per month).
Just to put this in perspective, the official Inflation Index for India for FY 2006-07 was 519 and for FY 2008-09 it is 582, which means that as per the Govt. the actual inflation has been around 12% (582/519) for this period.
Also, from Sep 2006 till date, central excise duty has come down from 14% to 8% (down 43%), service tax has come down from 12.36% to 10.3% (down 17%), the price of oil (per barrel) has come down from US$ 63.75 to US$ 41.31 (down 35%) - and yet Reliance has petitioned MERC with an increase that will end up in us paying almost 30% MORE.
I wonder if our disposable incomes went up as much !!
The MERC Public Hearing on Reliance's Tariff Petition is scheduled for Thursday, March 26th at Rangsharda, Bandra Reclamation at 11am. I trust at least a few of you would file a public response opposing the hike (I will be filing one - and you would like to do that, please email me and I send you a copy of what I file).
For those who can't wait - send an email to mercindia@mercindia.org.in - not that they take cognizance of emails - but still 1,000 emails can make a BIG difference - considering that there are about 28 Lakh consumers of Reliance... and don't forget to mark me a copy!
Go ahead and try this - and do send me your feedback at sandeep.ohri@ymail.com (bouquets and brickbats - both will be accepted humbly).
- Sandeep
(Disclaimer: I have tried to make this calculator as accurate as possible - but please try and understand that this is really complex and hey.. who said everyone was perfect!)
I've uploaded the file here on the Bijlee YahooGroup site and you can sign in to access it (scroll down the list to reach the file "Revised_Reliance_Tariff_Calculator.xls).
All you need to do is input your consumption in the yellow box on the first sheet - and the data will appear as to how much you would have paid at various intervals during this time frame. The dates taken are based on the various tariff orders issued by MERC.
I have included the figure of what would happen, if Reliance's current proposal is approved.
Just to give you a few examples:
1. If your consumption is 100 units - in Sep 2006 you would have paid Rs. 205.29, and (if Reliance's proposal is approved) from Apr 2009, you would be paying Rs. 418.76 - a whopping 104% up in 30 months - and average of almost 42% per year (or 3.5% per month)
2. If your consumption is 400 units - in Sep 2006 you would have paid Rs. 1,577.15, and (if Reliance's proposal is approved) from Apr 2009, you would be paying Rs. 2,923.84 - an increase of 85% in 30 months - and average of approx 34% per year (or nearly 2.9% per month).
Just to put this in perspective, the official Inflation Index for India for FY 2006-07 was 519 and for FY 2008-09 it is 582, which means that as per the Govt. the actual inflation has been around 12% (582/519) for this period.
Also, from Sep 2006 till date, central excise duty has come down from 14% to 8% (down 43%), service tax has come down from 12.36% to 10.3% (down 17%), the price of oil (per barrel) has come down from US$ 63.75 to US$ 41.31 (down 35%) - and yet Reliance has petitioned MERC with an increase that will end up in us paying almost 30% MORE.
I wonder if our disposable incomes went up as much !!
The MERC Public Hearing on Reliance's Tariff Petition is scheduled for Thursday, March 26th at Rangsharda, Bandra Reclamation at 11am. I trust at least a few of you would file a public response opposing the hike (I will be filing one - and you would like to do that, please email me and I send you a copy of what I file).
For those who can't wait - send an email to mercindia@mercindia.org.in - not that they take cognizance of emails - but still 1,000 emails can make a BIG difference - considering that there are about 28 Lakh consumers of Reliance... and don't forget to mark me a copy!
Go ahead and try this - and do send me your feedback at sandeep.ohri@ymail.com (bouquets and brickbats - both will be accepted humbly).
- Sandeep
(Disclaimer: I have tried to make this calculator as accurate as possible - but please try and understand that this is really complex and hey.. who said everyone was perfect!)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
SC allows Tata Power to retail Power to Mumbai
Get set for (re)entry of Tata Power in the Mumbai Retail sector.
See this..
Increased competition is good news for 25L electricity consumers who are presently 'suffering' under R-ADAG's tyranny.
Now, to clear out a few doubts (no doubt, created by some vested interests):
1. Tata Power does NOT have to apply for a fresh License, as reported in some sections of the Press. It already holds a valid license for supply to the whole of Mumbai. In fact, the interpretation of that very license was the one questioned by REL in the Supreme Court. So the question of a 'fresh public hearing' (which is mandatory before grant of a license) need not be held.
2. Tata Power does not need to file for a fresh 'Tariff Order.' It has already received an approval for its latest Tariff Order as it is already supplying electricity to Mumbai and already HAS some retail consumers. MERC had put a 'stay' on it getting 'new consumers' below 1000 kV, but it was (and is) already serving many consumers in the general retail segment.
3. Tata Power need not set up an entirely new distribution network. The Electricity Act 2003, in its great wisdom, had already forseen this situation and already provides for any distributor using the distribution assets of another (to avoid cost-escalation). The second distributor woulod need to pay the first one a charge for usage, called 'wheeling charges'. Incidentally, MERC has already approved standard wheeling charges as well.
The only delay I foresee is in the logistics of the execution. REL will now give TPC a hard time in freezing these wheeling charges (and also in finalising the modalities of which assets it can 'share').
The other side issue that arises is that of REL's requirement of electricity, now that many of its customers may want to move to TPC.
REL may now, not need so much electricity from outside its Dahanu plant and hence need not buy 'expensive power'. Also, it may not need so much of capital expenditure.
Hence, its chargeable tariff may actually come down !! Right ?
Well, maybe I'm not so smart after all ;)
See this..
Increased competition is good news for 25L electricity consumers who are presently 'suffering' under R-ADAG's tyranny.
Now, to clear out a few doubts (no doubt, created by some vested interests):
1. Tata Power does NOT have to apply for a fresh License, as reported in some sections of the Press. It already holds a valid license for supply to the whole of Mumbai. In fact, the interpretation of that very license was the one questioned by REL in the Supreme Court. So the question of a 'fresh public hearing' (which is mandatory before grant of a license) need not be held.
2. Tata Power does not need to file for a fresh 'Tariff Order.' It has already received an approval for its latest Tariff Order as it is already supplying electricity to Mumbai and already HAS some retail consumers. MERC had put a 'stay' on it getting 'new consumers' below 1000 kV, but it was (and is) already serving many consumers in the general retail segment.
3. Tata Power need not set up an entirely new distribution network. The Electricity Act 2003, in its great wisdom, had already forseen this situation and already provides for any distributor using the distribution assets of another (to avoid cost-escalation). The second distributor woulod need to pay the first one a charge for usage, called 'wheeling charges'. Incidentally, MERC has already approved standard wheeling charges as well.
The only delay I foresee is in the logistics of the execution. REL will now give TPC a hard time in freezing these wheeling charges (and also in finalising the modalities of which assets it can 'share').
The other side issue that arises is that of REL's requirement of electricity, now that many of its customers may want to move to TPC.
REL may now, not need so much electricity from outside its Dahanu plant and hence need not buy 'expensive power'. Also, it may not need so much of capital expenditure.
Hence, its chargeable tariff may actually come down !! Right ?
Well, maybe I'm not so smart after all ;)
Is MERC lying .. or is REL Infra lying ?? - Open letter to MERC
06.07.08 (great date!)
To
The Secretary & Members
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
Centre 1, World Trade Centre
Mumbai
Dear Sirs,
Re: Status of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (erstwhile Reliance Energy Ltd) as an Electricity Distributor under the EA 2003
Please refer attached 2 image files:
1. MERC-RTI.jpg
2. REL_July4th_article.jpg
The first one is a reply sent by your organisation stating that Reliance Infrastructure Ltd is not authorised to distribute electricity.
The second one is an advertisement released by the same Reliance company stating (in the first para under 'Background') that 'Reliance Infrastructure is an electricity distribution company with a distribution license to supply electricity in and around the suburbs of Mumbai..'
Now, please tell us (the general public whom you are supposed to serve - and who pay for your salaries from their hard earned money) .. WHO is LYING?
Did your PIO lie to Mr. Ponrathnam (in the RTI reply) or is the Reliance ADAG company lying (in a public advertisement)?
If your PIO is lying - he can be penalised and so can your entire organisation.
If the Reliance ADAG is lying.. what action can you take? In the past there has never been any penal action on the lies that this same Reliance ADAG company has told (please refer the latest Tariff Order - where they have 'admitted' to making numerous mistakes .. and you have done NOTHING!)
Look forward to receiving your response on this issue.
Warm regards,
Sandeep N. Ohri
Coordinator-bijlee
Bombay Small Scale Industries Association
snohri2004@yahoo.co.in
9833097575
Copy to: The Fourth estate and other like-minded people - with a request to ensure fair play to the common tax-payer...
To
The Secretary & Members
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
Centre 1, World Trade Centre
Mumbai
Dear Sirs,
Re: Status of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (erstwhile Reliance Energy Ltd) as an Electricity Distributor under the EA 2003
Please refer attached 2 image files:
1. MERC-RTI.jpg
2. REL_July4th_article.jpg
The first one is a reply sent by your organisation stating that Reliance Infrastructure Ltd is not authorised to distribute electricity.
The second one is an advertisement released by the same Reliance company stating (in the first para under 'Background') that 'Reliance Infrastructure is an electricity distribution company with a distribution license to supply electricity in and around the suburbs of Mumbai..'
Now, please tell us (the general public whom you are supposed to serve - and who pay for your salaries from their hard earned money) .. WHO is LYING?
Did your PIO lie to Mr. Ponrathnam (in the RTI reply) or is the Reliance ADAG company lying (in a public advertisement)?
If your PIO is lying - he can be penalised and so can your entire organisation.
If the Reliance ADAG is lying.. what action can you take? In the past there has never been any penal action on the lies that this same Reliance ADAG company has told (please refer the latest Tariff Order - where they have 'admitted' to making numerous mistakes .. and you have done NOTHING!)
Look forward to receiving your response on this issue.
Warm regards,
Sandeep N. Ohri
Coordinator-bijlee
Bombay Small Scale Industries Association
snohri2004@yahoo.co.in
9833097575
Copy to: The Fourth estate and other like-minded people - with a request to ensure fair play to the common tax-payer...
"Name change reflects new business", says REL
Remember I had said that when there is a change in name, the objectives of the company also change? Read here, what the company themselves have to say about their name change.
Go on, MERC, keep saying that a name change makes no difference.. now how are you going to figure out how much of the tariff collected is going towards Mumbai electricity business...
I'm DAMN sure WE suburban residents are paying for ALL their other business ...
Here's an interesting point of view .. if their costs of electricity purchase goes up -- they don't HAVE to raise the tariff, they will just report a slightly lower profit in their quarterly results .. so
WHY the hell doesn't MERC understand this ????
If anyone has the gaul .. please haul these guys up...!!
Go on, MERC, keep saying that a name change makes no difference.. now how are you going to figure out how much of the tariff collected is going towards Mumbai electricity business...
I'm DAMN sure WE suburban residents are paying for ALL their other business ...
Here's an interesting point of view .. if their costs of electricity purchase goes up -- they don't HAVE to raise the tariff, they will just report a slightly lower profit in their quarterly results .. so
WHY the hell doesn't MERC understand this ????
If anyone has the gaul .. please haul these guys up...!!
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