BHUBANESWAR: The power distribution companies (Discoms) owe a whopping Rs5,129.44 crore to the bulk power trading utility Grid Corporation of Odisha Limited (Gridco).
The Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu), currently managed by Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), is the major defaulter with an arrear due of Rs1,872.90 crore. The utility had an outstanding due of Rs2,178 crore as on March 31, 2014.
In written reply to Naba Kishore Das of Congress, Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das said the three Discoms previously owned by Reliance Infrastructure Limited (R-Infra) - Nesco, Wesco and Southco - have outstanding dues of Rs1110.25 crore, Rs1300 crore and Rs846.21 crore respectively.
Repudiating the allegations that power sector reforms in the State have failed, the Minister said distribution licences of the three R-Infra managed Discoms were cancelled due to violation of the licencing conditions, Escrow agreement, non-payment of bulk supply dues and failure to service the NTPC bonds and other securitised loans. The three discoms are now functioning under the supervision of Gridco.
Das further said the management of Cesco is being monitored by OERC after AES, the major stakeholder of the company, abandoned the management.
The Minister said Gridco has filed a case against AES in Khurda district and sessions court while several cases against R-Infra are pending before the Appellate Tribunal of Electricity.