NEW DELHI: Delhi’s power distribution companies are hoping that the subsidy payment by the Arvind Kejriwal government would be made directly to them, instead of adjusting it against their arrears to generation and transmission firms as was the case during the previous, brief rule of the Aam Aadmi Party Distribution companies are seeking higher tariffs, saying that they need to make up for a huge revenue shortfall, which the units of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group estimate to be Rs 21,000 crore. These firms, BSES Rajdhani Power and BSES Yamuna Power, did not receive the subsidy payment when Kejriwal was chief minister for 49 days last year. The estimate of revenue shortfall has to be accepted by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).“DERC has admitted in its affidavit in the Supreme Court that around Rs 9,000 crore is owed to BSES discoms. Once this amount is cleared, around Rs 4,500 crore owed to Delhi power utilities will be paid immediately,” a BSES spokesman said.Kejriwal on Wednesday announced a 50% subsidy on monthly power consumption of up to 400 units, fulfilling AAP ’s pre-poll promise.“The system that exists is that the government provides subsidy to distribution companies at the beginning of each quarter. However, they are adjusted against dues to transmission companies. The companies would like the money to come directly to it,” an industry source said. A Tata Power spokesman, however, said his company is happy with the current structure of subsidy disbursement.