Karnataka hikes power tariffs across the board
26 Nov 2009
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has increased the power tariff in the state by an average of 34.16 paise per unit, effective from 1 December. This works out to a hike of 7.5 per cent on average.
The state's electricity supply companies (Elcoms) had earlier demanded a rise to 51 paise per unit. These include Bangalore Electricity Supply Co Ltd (Bescom), Mangalore Electricity Supply Co Ltd (Mescom), Chamundeshwari Electrical Supply Corp (CESC) for Mysore region, Hubli Electricity Supply Co Ltd (Hescom) and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Co (Gescom).
They have been demanding a tariff revision citing the overall increase in cost of operations, increase in cost of power purchase, and other expenses. The commission, after preliminary examination of proposals and public hearings, issued a revised order which is different for different Escoms.
For the first time, each of the five electricity supplying companies in the state will have slightly different tariffs instead of the present system of uniform tariff, as the KERC issued a differential tariff order. The hike varies for each category of consumers.
Power consumers in the relatively more reliable Bescom area, including Bangalore, will have to pay an additional 40.11 paise per unit on an average, while the consumers of other Escoms will have to bear with an average increase ranging from 24.87 to 26.57 paise.
The good news for domestic consumers in all the Escoms is that there is no increase in tariff for the first 100 units consumed by them. But they will have to pay an additional 30 paise per unit for consumption between 101 and 200 units, an additional 40 paise from 200 to 300 units, 50 paise from 300 to 400 units, and 120 paise for the consumption above 400 units.
