As summer sets in, electricity tariff to be hiked in Karnataka

Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, while justifying the move, has said that the hike was inevitable and it has been raised as little as possible.

Come April 1 and people of Karnataka will have to shell out more for electricity. Prepare to pay higher electricity bills as the government has hiked power tariff owing to demands from ESCOMs. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission will notify the hike and revised pricing for electricity on March 31.

In December last year, ESCOMS from across the state had asked for a hike of Rs 1.48 per unit. Owing to pressure from the electricity companies, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission is likely to hike tariff by Rs 0.40 per unit. Justifying the hike, Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said that the hike was inevitable and is the least as against the ESCOM's demand of Rs 1.48 per unit. "Electricity tariff was hiked last April. It was inevitable and we have hiked it as little as possible," he said.

With drought plaguing the state and water scarcity painting a grim picture of the summer to come, the hike in electricity tariff is likely to disgruntle the citizens further.

OneIndia News