The proposed power tariff revision by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board would be applicable only to those with a bi-monthly consumption of 600 units and above, an official said on Tuesday.
“There are about 150 lakh connections in the State and of them, 136 lakh customers would not be included in the new tariff revision. The new tariff will be applicable to about 14-15 lakh customers,” TNEB Chairman C. P. Singh said at the first public hearing over the proposed revision.
Citing “huge losses” and non-revision of tariff for the last seven years, the TNEB forwarded a proposal for hiking the tariff to Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) for consideration. Based on this, the commission is conducting the hearings.
TNERC Chairman S. Kabilan told reporters that a decision on the hike would be taken only after public hearings. It would hold hearings in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore over the next few weeks, he said.
Mr. Singh said to meet the growing power demand, the TNEB had planned to invest Rs. 3,000 crore on capacity expansion this year and would make another Rs. 4,000 crore next year. He said about five lakh new connnections were provided every year.
On power thefts, he said the Board had recovered about Rs. 17 crore in 2008-09 and Rs. 50 crore so far this year by way of penalties.
