Retail outlets that use grid power for lavish lighting to illuminate the shops this festival season will have to shell out more towards power costs.
Lavish illumination
In a recent communication, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has said that lavish illumination will continue to be billed under Tariff VI so long as the separate service for lavish illumination exists.
An official of the Tangedco here told The Hindu that clarifications are needed on this issue.
Commercial establishments were now paying the commercial charges for power used for laving lighting. The Tangedco will start implementing the new tariff now for these outlets and for advertisement boards on the central medians.
It had already appealed to the commercial establishments to use generators for lavish lighting during the evening peak hours (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Those who use grid power should co-operate with the Tangedco, the official said.
New tariff
The Tangedco communication also says that the power connections for temporary purpose such as construction will come under the new tariff with effect from June 21 and the permanent supply procedure will be adopted.
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, says that the Tangedco will start implementing the norms specified by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) for temporary connections with retrospective effect (from June 21, 2013). This will benefit the common man. In the case of consumers who have paid additional amount and got connection between June 21 and September 19 for temporary purpose such as construction, the Tangedco should adjust the amount paid for extension purposes in the regular billing, he said.
