NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday lashed out at the Centre’s proposed amendments in Electricity Act due to come up in the winter session of Parliament in November. He claimed that these would lead to a substantial increase in tariff for Delhi power consumers and benefit only some ‘selected’ private companies. The CM said the proposed amendments would render the state governments powerless as far as the electricity sector is concerned. All powers are proposed to be vested with the Centre, which is a gross violation of the basic federal structure of the Constitution, he said.Among the proposed amendments, the one that has got the AAP government protesting most vociferously is a proposal to phase out cross-subsidies. “At present, across India, higher tariff is charged from industrial and commercial consumers to subsidize domestic consumers and farmers. Likewise, those who have a higher load and consumption are charged higher to subsidize those with lower consumption. This helps subsidize small and medium domestic consumers and farmers without any additional burden on the state governments. Now, all this will end.”“After this amendment ,” said officials, “there will be just one rate of electricity for all consumers, irrespective of load, consumption or type of consumer. It is proposed to reduce cross-subsidy to 20 per cent immediately and progressively eliminate it within three years.’’ The AAP government says that phasing out cross-subsidy in favour of one, uniform tariff would lead to immediate increase in tariff for small and medium domestic consumers as well as farmers, who account for nearly 90% of all consumers.While the amendment says state governments are free to give subsidies directly, the AAP government argues that this will increase the subsidy burden on states in a big way. “The state governments already have stressed budgets. States are just not in a position to provide such huge subsidies,’’said a government official. “One unit of electricity costs Rs 7.40 to generate. With cross-subsidies, we are able to charge the weakest sections less and the commercial and industrial sectors more. If the cross-subsidies are done away with, everyone will be charged Rs 7.40 per unit. Even with our subsidy of Rs 2 per unit, people will have to pay Rs 5.40 per unit, which is more than five times the existing rate of Rs 1 per unit for consumers of less than 200 units,” said Kejriwal, addressing a press conference at his residence.The CM said the Centre had sent the draft amendment to all state governments on September 7, giving them 45 days to get back with their comments. “The amendments are aimed at benefiting two big power generation and distribution companies that are good friends of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.Kejriwal pointed out that one of the amendments would allow “future trading” in the power sector for the first time, leading to the possibility of the cost per unit of electricity going up from Rs 7.40 per unit. “I will be writing to all chief ministers day after and also visit the non-BJP state CMs to ask them to oppose these amendments. I will also ask leaders of non-BJP parties in Rajya Sabha to do the same,” he announced.At present, the state governments have a say in constitution of electricity regulatory commissions through the selection committee and two of the three members of the committee are the state government’s choice. “An amendment proposes a six-member selection committee with only one state government nominee, four central government nominees and one sitting Supreme Court judge. In effect, the central government will decide constitution of all state electricity regulatory commissions. Further, the central government will regularly review the performance of all the regulatory commissions, making them completely subservient to the Centre,’’ said officials.All power purchase agreements (PPAs) will now have to be signed in accordance with the format issued by Central Electricity Authority. “Therefore, now the Centre will decide what kind of agreements will be signed by the states,’’ said an official.