Industrial consumers await tariff rebate

SOLAN: Several industrial consumers were yet to receive the 10 per cent excess consumption rebate announced by the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission in its tariff order for the financial year 2018-19 which was supposed to be added incentive for undertaking expansion of production activities in the state.

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 25

Several industrial consumers were yet to receive the 10 per cent excess consumption rebate announced by the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission in its tariff order for the financial year 2018-19 which was supposed to be added incentive for undertaking expansion of production activities in the state.

This rebate was supposed to be granted on the energy charges computed on the increased consumption by the industrial units over the previous year. This incentive was introduced in order to boost electricity consumption in the state and to attract expansions in the existing industries. A similar provision was also notified for the new consumers.

“With the board officials yet to grant this concession to all industrial consumers despite lapse of several months its objective has been defeated. This rebate should have been adjusted in the energy bills issued for the month of April, but the HP State Electricity Board limited (HPSEBL) has failed to implement the orders of the commission and the consumers have to run from pillar to post requesting the adjustment of this rebate”, informed Rakesh Bansal, senior vice president, Parwanoo Industries Association.

He added that the delay would not augur well in the present scenario when the state government is making all efforts to rope in new investments in the state. The process should have been implemented automatically with implementation of IT initiatives by the HPSEBL, rather than the consumers applying for adjustment of rebate.

A section of investors added that since this concession has to be granted by the board itself, they should devise a means to bring it on auto mode as against the waiver in electricity duty, which requires a certification from the industries department.

Superintending Engineer, HPSEBL, SK Sen, said this provision was not on auto mode as of now and hence the monthly bills issued to the consumers could not compute this. He said the eligible consumers have to apply to the field officer. They have been directed to provide the concession to all eligible consumers.