Use more, pay less: Revised power tariff kicks in

DHNS

Bangalore, 08 January 2011: The upward revision of power tariff — by an average of 30 paise per unit — came into effect on Friday.

 

Ironically, consumers who use less power will feel the pinch, while households consuming high energy will pay between 30 and 90 paise less per unit, thanks to what the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) calls “rationalisation of tariff slabs.”

 

For instance, if a household in Bangalore consumes more than 400 units of power a month, the tariff will be Rs five per unit. Under the old tariff, those consuming above 400 units a month were paying Rs 5.90 per unit. This holds good with all other city corporations in the State. Similarly, the same category of consumers (above 400 unit per month) coming under other urban local bodies (ULBs) in the State will pay 30 paise less per unit, as the old tariff was Rs 5.30 per unit.

 

This is because the KERC, in its tariff revision order dated December 7, 2010, has scrapped all slabs above 200 units a month and fixed flat Rs 5 per unit for those consuming more than 201 units per month (domestic consumers).

 

Further, those who consume power between 301 and 400 units per month in Bangalore city will pay just 5 paise more for every unit and those in other ULBs will pay 25 paise more per unit (old tariff for this category of consumers in Bangalore city was Rs 4.95 per unit and other ULBs Rs 4.75 per unit).

 

Huge hike

 

On the contrary, those who consume between 201 and 300 units per month in ULBs are badly hit as they will be shelling out 60 paise more per unit. The old tariff for them was Rs 4.40 per unit. Similarly, those consuming between 301 and 400 units per month in ULBs will be paying 25 paise more per unit. Hike for the average household that consumes between 100 and 200 units per month will be 30 paise in Bangalore city and 40 paise in other ULBs.

 

According to the KPTCL, about 70 per cent of its consumers fall under below 100 units per month slab, but revenue generated from this category is just 15 per cent.

 

A major chunk of revenue of about 85 per cent is earned from those who consume above 100 units per month. The KERC did not want to burden the majority of the consumers and hence it hiked the tariff for them by about 25 paise. The burden was passed on to people who consume between 100 and 300 units per month. Tariff was reduced to high-energy consuming category (above 400 units) as they were already paying high tariff, the officials explained. An average family in Bangalore and other ULBs consumes between 180 and 200 units a month.

 

Why January 7?

 

The KERC had increased power tariff with effect from last December 7, 2010. But the Escoms are effecting the increase from January 7, 2011, for the convenience of calculating tariff, said Srinivasan, Chief General Manager, Finance, Bescom.

 

He said the revised tariff will not be collected with retrospective effect. The government withheld implementation of tariff revision from December 7 in view of the ZP and TP elections. Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje had said the government will file a petition before the KERC seeking review of the tariff order as it would burden common man. But once the election process got over on January 4, the government decided to implement the order.

 

Rural areas to get 6 hrs of 3-phase power in summer

• Govt looking at extending power supply hours, says Karandlaje

Shimoga, 07 January 2011: The government has decided to ensure supply of three-phase power for six hours a day in rural areas in March and April to facilitate farmers, Power, Food and Civil Supplies minister Shobha Karandlaje said here on Friday.

 

The decision had been taken in view of the improved generation in Raichur, Bellary and Udupi thermal power stations, the minister told mediapersons. Moreover, the hydro-electric power stations too were producing to their maximum capacity, she said. Hence, the government had decided to provide quality power supply in both rural and urban areas in the State, Karandlaje said.

 

The government, she said, was committed to provide single-phase power between 6 in the evening and 6 in the morning to facilitate students. Further, supply of three-phase power during night was also being contemplated.

 

Defending the increase in power tariff, she said said it was inevitable as farmers were being provided with power free of cost, and the five escoms in the State had a debt burden of Rs 5,000 crore. Karandlaje said the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) had proposed an increase of 75 paise per unit, but the government had agreed to hike the tariff by 30 paise. The minister, however had no answer to a question on the retrospective hike from December 7.

 

Karandlaje, however said her department was awaiting approval of the Finance department for the recruitment of linemen in all Bescoms, which had a 50 percent shortfall of linemen. Also, her department would also take action to make recruitments under the sports quota, she said.

 

The minister said action would be taken to ensure that CFL and LED lamps replaced incandescent bulbs in all Bescom areas by March 31. She said she had no information on complaints that CFL and LED lamps had manufacturing faults.

 

Action against firm

 

The minister said the government would take action against the firm, Comat Technologies, which had been contracted to distribute PDS cards to the public, for failing its contract obligations. The firm had not only failed to to supply the cards to the beneficiaries within the stipulated time, but also supplied cards to an excess of 25 lakh families .

 

Distribution of cards had been stopped until the contractual dispute with Comat was resolved, Karandlaje said, adding that the gridlock may continue for another three months.