Power bills to zoom across Gujarat

Electricity bills of consumers across Gujarat are set to increase with power distribution companies in the state being allowed to raise tariff between 31-34 paise per unit.

In its order on Tuesday,Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) allowed Torrent Power Ltd (TPL) to raise power tariff by 31 paise per unit for all consumers (except those falling under BPL category). Torrent Power,which distributes power to consumers in Ahmedabad,Surat and Gandhinagar,had in its tariff petition asked for an upward revision of 48 paise per unit for 2013-14,citing increase in fuel and power purchase costs and also in the fixed cost due to various inflationary factors.

The increase in power tariff is expected to help Torrent Power raise an additional income of Rs 315 crore.

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The Commission also decided to discontinue the demand-based tariff for individual residential premises having connected load above 15 KW.

Meanwhile,GERC permitted the four state-run power distribution companies Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (UGVCL),Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL),Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL) to raise tariff for all category of consumers (except BPL) by 34 paise per unit.

The state discoms had demanded tariffs to be raised by 36 paise. This increase will help them generate an additional income of Rs 1,809 crore.

The GERC order will come into effect from April 1 onwards.

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