Fuel surcharge hiked, power gets dearer

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, April 19

Power will be dearer from April 1 due to a hike in fuel surcharge. It will be applicable to both domestic and non-domestic consumers, expect the agriculture sector. However, the industry has sought withdrawal of the move.

The move about the hike was revealed after the issuance of a circular by the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) which in its sales circular issued on April 16 disclosed the revised rates of fuel surcharge.

This is reported to be second such hike in the past six months as a hike of 14 paise per unit was done in November last year. Though the rates of fuel surcharge vary for various categories of consumers, it will be around Rs 1.66 per unit for industrial consumers. According to the circular issued by the office of the Chief Engineer (Commercial), UHBVN, Panchkula, the hike of 37 paise per unit comes following the order of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) dated March 19 in which it has approved the recovery of fuel surcharge adjustment after a revision. According to the directions, the fuel surcharge which was 77 paise for consumption up to 40 units has now gone up to Rs 1.14 per unit. It will be Rs 1.43 per unit for units consumed between 41 and 250 units (domestic). Similarly, the surcharge for consumption between 251 and 500 units will be Rs 1.52 instead of Rs 1.15 per unit. For the consumption of 501 or above, it will be Rs 1.64. For non- domestic, it will be between Rs 1.56 and Rs 1.66 per unit. Describing the hike as an onslaught on the interest of power consumers, Col SK Kapoor, secretary, Faridabad Industries Association, claimed that it would spell doom for the industry which was already facing hardship due to various factors.

Ramneek Prabhakar of the Manufacturers Association, Faridabad, said while it was a major setback for the industry and business, entrepreneurs would feel the heat due to rise in production costs and other charges which comes as multiplier effect of such a move.

Demanding a rollback, he said the power here was already one of the costliest in the northern region. Expressing resentment over the hike, Rajiv Chawla of the Small and Medium Enterprises said the industry deserved a relief and not a hike when the PM had launched “Make in India” drive.