FSMEAP seeks separate public hearing for industries

FSMEAP seeks separate public hearing for industries
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Hyderabad: Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Andhra Pradesh (FSMEAP) has urged Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) to...

Hyderabad: Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Andhra Pradesh (FSMEAP) has urged Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) to hold separate public hearings for industrial consumers on power tariff revisions and fuel surcharge adjustments (FSAs). APK Reddy"The present system of inviting all categories of consumers like domestic, commercial, industrial etc., for common public hearing is not serving the purpose as industrial consumers are not able to effectively present their point of view on the subject due to overcrowded venue," A P K Reddy, President, FSMEAP, said. He sought exclusive hearings for industrial sector so that representatives from various industry bodies, bank officials and individual entrepreneurs could effectively present their views on the proposed changes. Commissioner of Industries and other government officials could also participate in the public hearings, he added. In a representation to APERC, Reddy pointed out that many SME units in the State slipped into non-performing assets (NPAs) on account of power tariff hikes and power cuts during the past three years. FSAs have become additional burden on the industrial sector, he added. "In order to save SMEs from the brink of collapse, efforts should be made to reduce the burden on account of tariff hike by at least 50 per cent. Besides, FSA burden should not be imposed on SMEs at all," he demanded. Pointing out that power distribution company APCPDCL imposed huge penalties in March 2013 on those industries which consumed more power than allowed, with retrospective effect from September 2012, Reddy stated that several units were forced to cough up more than 600 per cent as penalty on the power consumed.
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