The decision by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to allow ‘compensatory tariff’ in addition to the current tariff for Adani Power’s 4,620 MW units at Mundra has come as a shock for Haryana power distribution companies (discoms) as well as consumers who are set to see soon another hike in power tariff. Haryana had signed two power purchase agreements with Adani Power on August 7, 2008 for the supply of 1424 MW at levelised tariff of Rs 2.94/kWh. The state started getting a daily supply of about 1100 MW (264 lakh units) of power from the Mundra thermal plant in Gujarat two months back. The CERC, while disposing of petition no. 155 filed by Adani Power for revising the power purchase agreements which the company had signed with Haryana and Gujarat discoms, observed that in view of the increased cost of imported coal, a “compensatory tariff’ was allowed for Adnai Power. After hearing the contentions of all the parties, the CERC ordered that a committee to work out the exact quantum of “compensation” over the current tariff be constituted. The committee would comprise the Principal Secretary (Power), Gujarat, Managing Director of Gujarat Power utility, Principal Secretary (Power), Haryana and Managing Directors of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVNL) along with the Chairman of Adani Power Ltd or his nominee, an independent financial analyst of repute and an eminent banker of the commensurate level. Sources in the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) said the utility had to shut down a number of its thermal units within the state during the winter season on account of reduced demand, while it was importing power from the Mundra thermal project in Gujarat in accordance with the power purchase agreement. As per the regulations, the HPGCL which had to incur fixed charges for shutting down its thermal units and now the discoms would also have to bear the burden of the ‘compensatory tariff’. This would result in yet another hike in the power tariffs in Haryana after the recent hike announced by the Haryana Electricity Regulation Commission (HERC), the sources said.