GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.590 ANSWERED ON 07.05.2015 POWER TARIFF *590. SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether there is a wide gap in consumption of electricity during peak and non- peak hours and if so, the details thereof; (b) the steps taken by the Government to disincentivise power consumption during peak hours; (c) whether the Government proposes to rationalise/replace the existing tariffs structure and encourage non-peaking consumption and if so, the details and status thereof; and (d) the time by which new power tariff structure is likely to be implemented? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL ) (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ******* STATEMENT STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 590 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 07.05.2015 REGARDING POWER TARIFF. ********** (a) : Yes, Madam. Due to variability of demand during the day / night, there is generally a gap in consumption (demand met) of electricity during peak and non-peak hours. On a typical day, say 30th April, 2015, the demand met during peak and non- peak hours was 1,29,395 MW and 1,17,020 MW respectively. Thus, there was a difference of 12,375 MW in the peak demand and non-peak demand in a day on 30th April, 2015. This figure may vary for any given day depending on demand and generation. (b) to (d) : The Electricity Act, 2003 has entrusted the responsibility of distribution tariff fixation on the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) / Joint Electricity Regulatory Commissions (JERCs) for various categories of consumers. In this regard, SERCs / JERCs notify the terms and conditions of tariff fixation from time to time for both public and private distribution licensees. Section 61 of the Act provides for guiding principles which the Appropriate Commission is required to consider for specifying the terms and conditions of tariff. As per Section 61 (i) of the Act, the Regulatory Commissions are also guided by the Tariff Policy notified by the Central Government. Time of Day (TOD) tariff is an important Demand Side Management (DSM) measure which can be used for incentivizing consumers to shift a portion of their loads from peak times to off-peak times, thereby improving the system load factor by reducing the demand on the system during peak period. 20 States have already implemented the TOD tariff for various categories of consumers. Ministry of Power has proposed for amendment in the existing provisions of the Tariff Policy so as to mandate the Appropriate Commissions to introduce time differentiated tariff within a specified time. ************* GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6662 ANSWERED ON 07.05.2015 SCAM IN NTPC †6662. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether any huge scam from National Thermal Power Corporation has been reported to the Government; and (b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL ) (a) & (b) : NTPC is a Maharatna Public Sector Enterprise of Government of India. It has a full fledged vigilance set up headed by a Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) and is also subjected to scrutiny by the independent agencies like Statutory Auditors, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), CVC/CBI etc. Further, it may be mentioned that CBI has registered a case on 25.01.2011 on the issue of contract awarded to the State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. regarding alleged supply of low quality imported coal at NTPC Unchahar Thermal Power Station. ********* GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6667 ANSWERED ON 07.05.2015 EARTH HOUR 6667. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.: SHRI CHINTAMAN NAVASHA: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that Earth Hour is being observed by switching off all the electrical appliances leaving essential ones; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the electricity saved therefrom; (c) whether State Governments have also joined this mission; and (d) if so, the details thereof along with the future plan of the Union Government for Conservation of electricity? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL ) (a) & (b) : The Earth Hour is a program, promoted by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The Government of India has no role to play in this programme. (c) : The Ministry of Power, Government of India is not aware of any State joining the Earth Hour Programme. (d) : Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), have undertaken following initiatives for the conservation of electricity: i. Energy efficiency labeling for 19 appliances. ii. Fuel efficiency standard prescribed for passenger cars. iii. Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC) formulated for energy efficiency improvement in commercial buildings. iv. Demonstration projects on Demand Side Management (DSM) in Municipal, Household, Agriculture and Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) sectors. v. Specific energy consumption norms prescribed for energy intensive industries notified as designated consumers. vi. Capacity building of State Designated Agencies and Distribution Companies for effective implementation of energy efficiency programmes. vii. Enabling investments in energy efficiency projects through a special purpose joint venture company, Energy Efficiency Service Ltd. (EESL), on a performance linked repayment business model. *********** GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6669 ANSWERED ON 07.05.2015 IMPACT OF PROPOSED POWER PLANTS †6669. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) the details of the thermal power plants proposed to be set up in Chhattisgarh, location-wise; (b) whether the impact of setting up of these plants on human lives and environment has been assessed; and (c) if so, the details thereof along with reaction of the Government thereon? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL ) (a) : After enactment of Electricity Act, 2003 generation of electricity has been de-licensed. As such Techno-Economic Clearance of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is not required for thermal power projects. However, details of power plants under execution in Chhattisgarh are furnished in Annex. (b) & (c) : Prior Environmental Clearance (EC) from Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF) and from State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SLEIAAs) are mandatory for the Power Plants as listed under the Schedule of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 and its amendments. ECs are accorded by following the due process laid down in the EIA Notification, 2006 which includes detailed appraisal of the EIA by the Expert Appraisal Committee. The conditions imposed while granting EC are meant to mitigate pollution as per the standards approved. The monitoring mechanism provides for regular reporting and supervision by the Regional Offices of the Ministry and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). ******** ANNEX ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6669 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 07.05.2015. *********** Details of Power Plants under execution in Chhattisgarh State Project Name Unit No Cap. (MW) Ant. Comm. Sched. CENTRAL SECTOR Chhatisgarh Lara TPP U-1 800 Dec-16 U-2 800 Jun-17 Total Central Sector 1600 STATE SECTOR Chhattisgarh Marwa TPP U-2 500 Jul-15 Total State Sector 500 PRIVATE SECTOR Chhattisgarh Akaltara TPP U-3 600 Jun-16 (Naiyara) U-4 600 Mar-17 U-5 600 Dec-17 U-6 600 Mar-18 Chhattisgarh Balco TPP U-1 300 Jun-15 U-2 300 Sep-15 Chhattisgarh Bandakhar TPP U-1 300 May-15 Chhattisgarh Binjkote TPP U-1 300 Dec-15 U-2 300 Mar-16 Chhattisgarh Raikheda TPP U-2 685 Jul-15 Chhattisgarh Singhitarai TPP U-1 600 Mar-16 U-2 600 Aug-16 Chhattisgarh TRN Energy TPP U-1 300 Apr-16 U-2 300 Mar-17 Chhattisgarh Uchpinda TPP U-1 360 Jun-15 U-2 360 Aug-15 U-3 360 Dec-15 U-4 360 May-16 Chhattisgarh Salora TPP U-2 135 Jul-15 Total Private Sector 7960 Grand Total 10060.0 *********** GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6675 ANSWERED ON 07.05.2015 DISINTEGRATION OF POWER SUPPLY 6675. SHRI M.B. RAJESH: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to disintegrate power supply and distribution; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the likely benefits therefrom; (c) whether any expert study was undertaken and international expertise in this regard was taken into account; (d) if so, the details thereof; and (e) the time by which the system is likely to be put in place? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL ) (a) & (b) : Yes, Madam. In order to bring further competition and efficiency in distribution sector, Government of India has, inter-alia, proposed separation of power supply and the distribution network business through the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 which has already been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 19.12.2014. These amendments envisage competition in retail (i.e. choice to consumers to select retail suppliers). (c) & (d) : The Working Group on Power constituted to formulate the programme for development of the power sector during the 12th Plan, under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Power, after detailed consultation with various stakeholders, recommended separation of “Carriage and Content”.