KATHMANDU, Oct 21
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has sought letter of intent from industrial enterprises for round the clock supply of electricity to factories through dedicated feeders by charging double tariff.
It has given the deadline of November 1 to industrial commercial and non-commercial firms wishing to get electricity from dedicated feeders. Such facilities will be provided for a minimum period of one year. It said the tariff will be almost doubled by making three categories on the basis of time of the day (TOD). The factories are currently paying Rs 7.75 per unit for the peak hours (5-11 pm), Rs 3.30 from 11 pm to 5 am and Rs 6.25 during normal hours (5 am to 5 pm). They have to pay more than double for electricity through dedicated feeders. NEA is making preparation for round the clock supply of electricity charging higher tariff following repeated complaints by the industrialists about massive fall in production in lack of regular supply. It will supply electricity through separate dedicated feeders to factories, and commercial and non-commercial enterprises.
Deputy Executive Director at the Planning, Monitoring and Information-Technology Directorate under NEA Ram Chandra Pandey said that electricity supply will be made regular by charging double tariff in agreement with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). He said the decision to that effect was taken after a fruitful discussion among the Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission (ETFC), NEA and FNCCI representatives on September 10. The industrialists themselves have to make arrangements of towers, wires and transformers for dedicated feeders and the prevailing demand fees will be charged. Pandey claimed that the expenditure for dedicated feeders will not affect the consumers like hotels, hospitals, cement and other factories, and added that the entrepreneurs are positive as electricity through the dedicated feeders will be cheaper that that generated by diesel plants. “The cost of electricity generated through diesel plants is over Rs 30 per unit. The industrialists are positive as electricity through dedicated feeders will be available at almost half that rate,” he added.
He said NEA is currently charging industrialists in three categories according to the capacity of transmission line. The average tariff per unit will be Rs 5.83 while supplying electricity to dedicated feeders through transmission line of 66 KV and higher capacities. NEA has proposed to charge a minimum of Rs 15 to Rs 22.20. NEA revealed that 56 MW of electricity will be supplied to the factories wishing to receive electricity over longer periods during the current fiscal year. It said the 56 MW will be managed by importing another 26 MW from India and generating 30 MW by operating the thermal plants in Hetauda and Biratnagar. NEA is planning to supply 12 MW in Sunsari-Morang corridor, 25 MW in Simara-Birgunj-Hetauda-Bharatpur corridor, 4 MW in Janakpur-Sagarmatha corridor, 5 MW in Butwal corridor and 7.5 MW in Kathmandu Valley.
Consumption of diesel will also fall if the industrial and commercial firms were to receive electricity through dedicated feeders. An additional Rs 18 billion had gone abroad for import of diesel in the last fiscal year due to rising load-shedding.
Source : Karobar Daily
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
