Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 30: It is likely that the people who had to contend with the onslaught of coronavirus have to be prepared to loosen their purse strings towards swelling power bills.

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Authority, which has already completed public hearing over the proposals of the electricity supply companies (escoms) for price hike, is likely to announce its decision as soon as the current lockdown ends.

Last year, the authority had permitted to hike power tariff by 40 paise per unit from the month of April. All the proposals have been examined and it is to be seen whether the government will decide in favour of the hike at a time when the people are facing financial crisis.

Mescom has demanded for permission to enhance the power tariff by Rs 1.67 per unit to meet the cost of generation. At the public hearing organized at the office of the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada on February 19, people had vehemently voiced their opinion against any hike. Many had also argued that there is a case for reduction of the tariff.

Mescom managing director, Prashant Kumar Mishra, said that the revision of tariff should have come into effect from April 1 this year. He said that Mescom is awaiting a decision from the KERC or the government.