Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Jul 1: The state government has given its go ahead to Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited and the electric supply companies in the state to submit proposals to hike power tariffs, before Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). Energy minister K S Eshwarappa informed at a press conference here on Tuesday June 30, that these companies will propose to the KREC, seeking a 20% hike on the current tariff, which will be an addition of 51 paise per each unit over the current rates. The proposals want to increase the tariffs on the pro-rata basis to all the categories of consumers, home, commercial establishments and industries.
As the KERC, after receipt of the proposals, has to invite objections from the people and organizations, hold a hearing and come out with a final decision, the increased rates might come into effect from January next year, he explained. Justifying the increase, he said that the neighbouring states have already affected the revision and that the proposal to increase the rates is being put up after a gap of six years. The last increase was just two percent, he reminded.
Energy department chief secretary Jairaj said, that considering the actual cost, the increase should have been Rs 1.13 per unit, but the same has been scaled down, considering the problems the consumers will face. He hoped that KERC will give its approval to the proposals in their current form, as the department has been able to peg the transmission and distribution loses to 18% from the earlier 27%. "We will place everything, including schemes like free power to agricultural pumpsets, subsidies, schemes like Nirantara Jyoti etc before KERC," he added.
KERC chairman K P Pandey in the meantime, has said that it is the duty of the KERC to come to the rescue of the electricity supply companies in times of crisis, if the reservoirs do not get enough water inflow during the monsoon. The government has been spending around Rs 6,500 crore annually to supply power to people, and has incurred Rs 3,000 crore for buying power from outside. The Commission will take into consideration all aspects before coming out with a decision, he said.
Eshwarappa also said that the government will make an official announcement about the quantum of load shedding in a couple of days, taking into account the gloomy situation in hydel power generation centres.