Bolt from the blue: power tariff hiked by 20 per cent

The hike is estimated to fetch Rs 15,703 crore against the existing revenue of Rs 13,870 crore.

While,the overall hike for all categories of consumers remains at 13 per cent,the rural consumers and those belonging to BPL have been spared.

The revised power tariff will come into force within a week of issue of notification by the public sector power utility,Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).

For domestic consumers living in urban areas and consuming 200 units per months,the tariff per unit has been increased from Rs 3 to Rs 3.45. The fixed charges per kw have also been revised from Rs 60 to Rs 65 per month.

Those consuming more than 200 units per month will have to pay Rs 3.80 for each unit against the existing Rs 3.30. The fixed charges per kw for this category has also been hiked to Rs 65 per month.

In a marginal relief to domestic consumers,the fixed charge of Rs 150 on air conditioners has been scrapped. The regulator has also created a new category for Delhi Metro Railway Corporation.

For commercial category,the tariff has been increased by 12.l7 per cent. The sign posts/sign board and glow signs for advertisement have been spared from hike.

A hike of 14.7 per cent — from Rs 4 per unit to Rs 4.60 — has been ordered for public institutions like educational institutions and offices. For the private institutions,the tariff has been increased from Rs 4.30 per unit to Rs 4.95.

For small and medium industry,the tariff has been increased by 14.4 per cent and for heavy industry the hike is 14.1 per cent. The railway traction will pay 12.2 per cent more from now.

“The attempt has been made by regulator to align the tariff to around minus or plus 20 per cent of the average cost of service,which is Rs 4.17 per unit as against the average cost of service of Rs 5.21 per unit as proposed by the UPPCL,” said Arun Kumar Srivastava,secretary of the UPSERC.

Consumer rights organisation,UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad,has criticised the hike. Awadhesh Kumar Verma,president of the organisation,said they will file a review petition before the advisory committee of the power regulator against the steep hike in power tariff,particularly for the domestic consumers.

The last time UPSERC had ordered hike in power tariff was in May 2008 when it had ordered a 10 per cent increase.

Mixed bag
Domestic consumers (urban areas)
* Less than 200 units monthly consumptionTariff per unit: Rs 3.45 from Rs 3 Monthly Fixed Charges (per kw): Rs 65 from Rs 60
* More than 200 units monthly consumptionTariff per unit: Rs 3.80 from Rs 3.30Monthly Fixed Charges (per kw): Rs 65 from Rs 60
* Scrapped: Fixed charge of Rs 150 on air conditioners for domestic consumers
* Spared: Rural domestic consumers and those belonging to BPL