APERC to Function as Joint Body for Both States for 6 Months

VV Balakrishna - HYDERABAD

Published: 08th May 2014 08:55 AM

Last Updated: 08th May 2014 08:55 AM

Hyderabad: After its initial ‘advisory’ to the government recently, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has finally decided to follow the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Now, a new ERC for Telangana state will be created within six months after the Appointed Day. The existing APERC will serve for the residuary AP state, till two separate ERCs are in place. It may be recalled that the APERC in its advisory to the government raised various objections on the AP Reorganisation Act and also suggested amendment to the Act. The energy department officials told the APERC that the amendment of AP Reorganisation Act will not be possible. Following this, the APERC on Wednesday released a draft APERC (Reorganisation) Regulation, 2014. ‘’As per Section 92 of the AP Reorganisation Act, the existing APERC shall function as joint regulatory body for a period not exceeding six months within which time separate ERCs will start functioning in the successor states. It is now required for the commission to make regulation consequent to the reorganisation for regulation of the electricity sector in both the states of Telangana and AP,” the APERC said in the draft Regulation. Accordingly, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 181 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) prepared the draft regulation for division of APERC into two.  This regulation is called AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (Reorganisation) Regulation, 2014. This Regulation will come into force with effect from June 2. The present AP Electricity Regulatory Commission will function as a joint regulatory body for both the states for  6 months or till separate State ERCs are formed.