New Delhi, May 10 (PTI) The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) must disclose information related to tariff fixation in "simple language" before inviting the public's views on the matter, the Central Information Commission has held.

The commission also directed DERC to pro-actively disclose information on controversial points like prudence check on electricity companies, non-submission of report on prudence check by consultant PWC, Income Tax issues, cost incurred by discoms in contesting cases in Supreme Court against CAG audit and CIC decision making them answerable under the RTI Act, among others.

It directed that DERC explain to the people the impact of these factors on consumers' interests vis-?-vis the profits earned by discoms so that people and stakeholders can provide their views or objections based on a complete understanding of the matter.

DERC had claimed that details cannot be shared before a decision is taken.

"It is not legally correct to say that DERC would share information after a decision is taken as it has a mandate to inform the people while formulating the tariff because it is seeking their objections and views, which cannot be given without complete information," Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said in his order.

An RTI activist, Anil Sood, complained to CIC that although DERC had sought the views of the public before tariff fixation (last date being April 17), it has not posted the complete information in simple language.

Sood had said that the public should be provided with complete information in easy language before its views are sought on electricity tariff fixation in the national capital.

He had alleged that this was a violation of the provisions for suo-motu disclosure under the RTI Act.

He had said that the public cannot be expected to go through 750 technical tables before giving its views.

"I require DERC to put up information in simple language with analysis and explanations before inviting the views and objections from the public as per the scheme and procedure of tariff fixation... and complete the process of tariff fixation as per their procedure," he said.