HYDERABAD: In a move that could help the state tide over the power crisis at least temporarily, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has permitted discoms to purchase power from private producers at a higher rate than before.When the power distribution companies approached the APERC with their plea, the commission responded immediately and allowed them to buy power at Rs 5.50 per unit. Earlier the upper limit to the purchasing price was Rs 4.50.The move came in the light of the growing power shortage in the state. The discoms had approached various private players for 1,200 mw power but the latter were reluctant to sell at the low rate, especially when states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are willing to pay even Rs 5.80 per unit.Meanwhile, the tenders called for short-term power purchase expired on Thursday and if fresh tenders were not called soon, the looming power crisis would escalate. In this backdrop, the discoms approached APERC with their plea so as to invite tenders on June 1.“Currently, the upper limit per unit is Rs 4.50. We have relaxed this to Rs 5.50 per unit,” an APERC official told Express. In any case, the power companies cannot pay more than Rs 5.50 per unit, the official added.
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