Domestic power consumers in the Union Territory are in for a shock with the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) clearing steep increase in power tariff across all categories.
This is the second increase in three years. The previous tariff revision was done in 2015.
The tariff, revised for 2018-19 by JERC, will be effective from April 1, 2018 and will leave an impact on the monthly bills of over 3 lakh domestic consumers in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The average power tariff is expected to be broadly in the range of 35 paise to 40 paise a unit although it might be slightly higher for some consumer categories.
The Puducherry Electricity Department caters to 4.9 lakh consumers of which 3.35 lakh are in the domestic category, 35,539 consumers under One Hut One Bulb service, 53,224 under commercial category and 6,836 agriculture connections.
As per the JERC order, the rate for consumption of up to 100 units (domestic service) has been increased to ₹1.40 a unit from ₹1.10 a unit.
For consumption of 101 to 200 units a month, the tariff, which was ₹1.75 a unit has been increased to ₹2.10 a unit and for 201 to 300 units the charge has been increased from ₹3.50 to ₹3.90 a unit. For consumption above 300 units, it has been increased from ₹4.60 to ₹5.05 a unit.
Commercial category
In the commercial category, for consumption of first 100 units the tariff has been increased to ₹5.30 from ₹4.70 a unit. For consumption from 101 to 250 units a month, the tariff, which was ₹5.60 a unit, has been increased to ₹6.20. For consumption above 250 units a month it has been hiked from ₹6.25 to ₹6.85 a unit.
The hike in tariffs had been effected across commercial segments, cottage industry, poultry farms, horticulture and pisciculture, low tension and high tension consumers. For HT (1) (a) and (b) category the fixed charges have remained the same, the energy consumption charges have gone up to ₹5.80 a unit from ₹5.25 a unit.
For HT(II), the energy consumption charges have gone up from ₹6.75 a unit to ₹7.30 a unit. For HT(III), the fixed charges are at 220 per kVA a month while the energy consumption charges have gone up from ₹5.10 a unit to ₹5.75 a unit.
For recovery of the past revenue gap, an additional surcharge of 4% as been levied on all consumers on the fixed tariff rates. However, agriculture and “one hut one bulb” category consumers are excluded from the surcharge.
The increase in revenue gap is mainly because of increase in cost of power from the central generating stations, increase in cost of power from NLC TS 1 to Karaikal region through Tangedco and increase in employee cost due to impact of Seventh Pay Commission and recruitment of employees.
The power tariff has been increased at a time when residents in Puducherry are facing frequent power cuts.
