THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Regulatory Commission board has informed that the KSEB will not be able to levy additional charge on consumers for the loss it incurred by purchasing electricity from private centres.

The very contract the KSEB singed with private centres is unacceptable. The contract inflicted a loss of Rs 22.38 crore on the board and this expense will be met only if State and Central governments give their nod.

KSEB inked long term contract for the purchase of 845 Megawatt electricity from various companies in two phases between 2013 and 2014. But the contract with companies in the second phase was signed at higher price but this was against Central instructions.

The contract had been signed to buy electricity from Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd, Jhabua Power Ltd and Jindal Power Ltd.

When the KSEB applied for surcharge during the first month this year, it had also asked for the amount as per the contract but the regularity commission was of the stand “let Central-State governments accept the contract first”.

The KSEB had requested the governments to accept the contract. If it is not accepted, the KSEB won’t be able to extract the charge from consumers and the board will have to bear the expense.