Report of Indian Institute of Public Administration ... - Ministry of Power

Rajasthan
Category
1995
-96
1996
-97
Billing and Collection Efficiency (%)
1997
-98
1998
-99
6.23
1999
-2000
Billing Efficiency (%)
Domestic 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Industrial 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Agricultural 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Collection Efficiency (%)
Domestic NA NA 96.5 95.9 95.2 96.9 99.3 97.7 97.1
Industrial NA NA 101.2 100.8 99.7 100.1 101.1 100.6 99.8
Agricultural NA NA 99.9 100.8 96.00 93.2 99.5 93.1 96.0
Rajasthan has been performing very well on this front. Even during the prerestructuring
period, 100 per cent billing of all the consumer categories was
ensured. That system continues even now. The collection efficiency is ranging
between 97 to 99 per cent in respect of domestic consumers and 99 to 100 per cent for
industrial consumers. In the pre-restructuring period also, collection efficiency
ranged between 99 to 101 per cent. In case of agricultural consumers, the collection
efficiency has ranged from 98 to 100 per cent in the past. This percentage has
somewhat declined in the post-restructuring period. Out of four years, the collection
efficiency was 93 per cent in two years, 96 per cent in one year and 99 per cent in one
year.
The Regulatory Commission had raised the tariff of flat rate consumers in its last tariff
order. However, there was a huge protest rally by the farmers and finally the
Government had to yield. The DISCOMs have been directed that though the bills may
be sent to the consumers on the basis of new tariff, the DISCOM should charge on the
basis of old tariff from the billing month of October 2005. The estimated annual loss
of revenue due to this step is likely to be more than Rs 200 crore. The Government has
also issued oral directions from November 2002 for suspension of recovery of
minimum charges from agriculture-metered consumers. This concession is continuing
since then. The financial burden on DISCOMs, due to this oral direction, is estimated
to be more than Rs 300 crore annually.
The EA, 2003 stipulates that if any concession is to be given by the Government to a
consumers or group of consumers, it should compensate the DISCOMs but if the
methodology as mentioned above becomes a precedent, it could open the
floodgates for populist decisions by the Government in tariff matters, without
2000
-01
2001
-02
2002
-03
2003
-04