Over 5% hike in power tariff from April 1

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 29

The domestic, non-domestic and commercial consumers under different categories have to shell out extra for consuming electricity from April 1 as the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) approved 5.72 per cent hike in electricity tariffs against the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited’s (UPCL) proposal of 13.48 per cent hike for financial year 2017-18.

While informing about power hike, UERC chairman Subhash Kumar said the commission had determined the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) at Rs 5840.98 crore for financial year 2016-17. He said the commission further estimated revenue at existing tariff on projected sale of 11,883.85 million units for financial year 2016-17 at Rs 5,524.71 crore, which left a revenue gap of Rs 316.27 crore.

A hike of 5.72 per cent was approved to recover the revenue gap. He said industrial consumers who avail continuous power supply need not to apply again for the continuous supply option. “Non-continuous processing industry can opt for continuous supply of power by paying a surcharge of 15 per cent of the energy charge. Interested consumers can submit an application by April 30. Consumers using prepaid meters are eligible for a rebate of four per cent and three per cent, respectively.

Kumar said the hike to hike power tariff was taken after the commission held two public hearings each in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand. He said UPCL officials were strictly instructed to draft a plan to strengthening electricity distribution system across the state.