Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (Berc) would hold a public hearing on May 9 on Bihar State Electricity Board’s petition seeking approval for procurement of 300MW power from the open market.

The board seeks to purchase the power from Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVNL) of National Thermal Power Corporation from March 1 this year for six months.

The commission, which would hold the hearing in its courtroom in the state capital, would seek comments, suggestions and objections from all stakeholder consumers, including consumer associations and general public on the board’s proposal to purchase power from the open market.

H.R. Pandey, the board spokesperson, said: “The board has filed a petition with the commission seeking its approval for 300MW power being procured from NVVNL for six months. Since we do not receive adequate amount of power supply from the central sector allocation as a public utility, we will have to make electricity available from other sources. If people have any doubts or objection, they can air their grievances before the commission.”

The board has been purchasing 300MW from NVVNL under short-term plan since September 2011. However, the agreement with the NVVNL came to an end on February 29, sources said, adding that the board and the NVVNL decided to extend the agreement for another six months starting March.

Asked why the petition is being filed so late when the BSEB has already started procuring 300MW from NVVNL, a board official said the petition was filed in February but the commission fixed the date for public hearing on May 9.

“Normally, the commission allows such petition keeping in mind the acute shortage of power the state has been facing for the past several years. Under this situation, if the board has managed to procure power, even at little higher rate, the commission allows the petition,” sources said.