The Hindu Business Line : Discoms file new papers for free power to AP ryots

FACTORING in the new agriculture policy, distribution companies today filed an addendum to the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) presented to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission last year.

With this, 90 per cent of farm service connections will get free power and corporate users and IT assesses charged.

Farmers with land holdings of more than 2.5 acres in wetland areas served by irrigation schemes and those having more than three connections in the name of their family in dryland areas will have to pay for the power provided.

An important feature of the new policy is the emphasis on energy conservation measures with lower tariffs being offered for those adopting such measures

Accordingly discoms have filed a fresh note to the detailed report filed on November 30, 2004, that would be applicable from April 1, 2005 for the next fiscal.

The Chairman and Managing Director of APTransco, Ms Rachel Chatterjee, in a statement on Monday said that the revised policy of the State Government will give fillip to the implementation of energy conservation measures in the agriculture sector, thereby paving the way for protecting the power system.

The companies have, accordingly, proposed a revised tariff for the agriculture category in accordance with the new policy announced by the State Government.

As per the estimates prepared by the companies based on a sample field surveys undertaken, only 10.55 per cent or 2.62 lakh agricultural connections would come under the category of users in the pay-for-use category.

Majority of 89.45 per cent or 22.21 lakh agricultural connections would continue to get free power during the financial year 2005-2006.

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