Karnataka is bracing for a power tariff hike for the record sixth time in the last four and half years as the power regulator is set to pronounce its tariff order on Monday.
The tariff revision is coming at a time when long hours of load-shedding have been imposed to tide over power shortage.
The tariff order is being pronounced in the wake of the five Escoms seeking an average hike of 66 paise for all consumer categories barring irrigation pump sets below the capacity of 10 HP and Bhagya Jyoti/Kutir Jyoti consumers.
The actual hike sought touches 1.43 paise a unit considering the fact that they want to bridge the previous revenue gap too.Going by the manner in which previous tariff revisions were effected by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, even Monday’s hike is expected to be a moderate one. But, what has caused concern in the power sector is that cumulative effect of such moderate hikes could be substantial as Karnataka has been witnessing tariff revision regularly on an annual basis.
The previous tariff revision came into effect on May 1, 2013, when the tariff was increased by an average of 23 paise a unit. The State has already witnessed five tariff hikes in the last four and half years since November 2009.
