SERC announces 6 to 15 per cent hike in power tariff

Shimla, May 30 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) today announced revised power tariff for the current financial year (2008-09), effecting six to fifteen per cent hike in tariff for all categories, except the BPL families and agriculture consumers, to generate additional revenue of Rs 163 crore.

The highest tariff for the industry, during the peak period, has been fixed at high as Rs 5.60 per unit, while the domestic consumers, who are getting subsidy to the tune of Rs 140 crore, would have to pay twenty paise more for consumption up to 150 units and 30 paisa more for consumption above 150 units.

The tariff for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families had been kept unchanged at 70 paise per unit for consumption up to 50 units but the domestic consumers would now pay 90 paise per unit upto 150 units, Rs 1.70 per unit for 151-300 unit slab and Rs 2.45 per unit above 300 units.

The tariff for agriculture consumers would remain at 50 paisa per unit but the government would be required to pay additional subsidy of Rs 3.35 crore to maintain the tariff level.

The total monthly bill of a domestic consumer who consumes 100 units would increase by Rs 20 and the total monthly bill for consumption of 400 units would increase by Rs 105, a spokesman of the Commission said.

The minimum tariff for consumers in the bottom line would be Rs 1.85 per unit and the subsidy to the agriculture and BPL consumers would be Rs 1.35 and Rs 1.15 per unit respectively.

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