(FE)
Piqued by the “complacency” and lack of boldness of the state-level electricity regulators that stymie the UDAY scheme, grid efficiency and assorted other reforms meant to make the sector economically viable and competitive, the power and coal minister did some tough talking to them last Friday, as they assembled here under the banner of Forum of Regulators. “Look inside you,” he told the regulators, and added: “If you are so weak and cannot take action, then (you have) no business to be where you are.” Asking why issues of “10-50 paise” could not be resolved expediently — the minister was alluding to non-viable tariffs jeopardising huge capital investments in power generation and regulators not undertaking tariff revisions on time — Goyal said the largely self-financed regulators could look forward to succour from the Centre if lack of funds crippled them in any manner. Goyal expressed concerns over 10,000 MW of solar modules capacity going a-begging as the state utilities refuse to honour their renewable purchase obligations and regulators doing not enough to correct the situation.
The minister was particularly angered by the regulators refusing to break the custom of doing the bidding of (unobliging) state governments. Urging the regulators to “act independently and professionally”, he told them “to be part of the system of new way of doing things” being laid down by the Modi government. Some friction between the regulators and those who appointed them was in order, the minister said, lamenting the complete absence of this in the power sector. “Take suo motu actions to bring in reforms,” he exhorted the regulators.
