PATIALA : Punjab state electricity regulatory commission (PSERC) has called Punjab state electricity board (PSEB)  on may 12 to hear the comments of the Board to the objections raised by the public besides Board's own point of view regarding the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR).

PSEB sources said   that PSERC has completed the hearing Monday for the objections on the Annual Revenue Requirement filed by the Punjab State Electricity Board for the financial year 2008-09.

PSERC heard the objections and suggestions from general public in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda. Large number of representatives of industry, Agriculture consumers and their unions, Staff unions of Board and other organizations etc. have participated and aired their views in front of the regulator.

Board, had explained its petition that with an annual revenue requirement (ARR) of Rs 13,513 crore for the 2008-09 financial year and additional revenue of Rs 5,254 crore needed for the next financial year.

The tariff petition was presented in the month of February-2008 after a delay of over two months only after the commission has asked board to do so.

The PSEB has demanded an increase of Rs 5,254 crore in revenue to run its affairs for the next year financial year.

Going by the existing tariff, the power board plans to generate revenue of Rs 11,398 crore in the coming year, while estimated expenditure has been pegged at Rs 13,513 crore. This means a revenue gap of Rs 2,115 for 2008-09. The board has also brought on record a sum of Rs 2,035 crore as pending revenue gap of 2006-07 and Rs 1,103 crore for 2007-08.