Industry against proposed power tariff hike in UP

Lucknow, Oct 20 (UNI) Industries in Uttar Pardesh have reacted sharply to the proposal of UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) to hike power tariff, terming the step as detrimental to the interests of producers in the state.

''... the power tariff in the state is among the highest in the country, making UP products uncompetitive. Such arbitrary tariff hikes will kill the struggling survivors,'' the Indian Industries Association (IIA) said here today.

Coming down heavily on the regulator, IIA said the proposal to hike tariff in commercial and industrial categories was unjustified and against the interest of the industries.

The authorities have proved themselves too lenient with the power supply companies and that too at the cost of industrial consumers, IIA lamented.

Even as the industries in UP had to pay minimum charges as well as the fixed charges, the hike would be too much of a burden to survive, the industry said.

IIA said the regulators had no control over power losses, while the industry was made to suffer the power tariif hike despite the non-availability of adequate power supply in the state.

UNI