Increase in power tariff on cards

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 24

Electricity bills are all set to escalate as the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has proposed structural changes, which may hike the power tariff by nearly 25 per cent for the financial year 2015-16.

Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) officials claimed that the hike in tariff of electricity for domestic, commercial and other consumers would be effected judiciously.

The power tariff would be revised after holding of the last phase of public hearing at the Indian Medical Association auditorium, Dehradun, which is slated for February 27. UERC had already locked public opinions in a series of public hearings held at Almora, Rudrapur and Pauri early in February this year.

UERC officials said that the hike in electricity tariff, if approved, would be effected judiciously so that consumers in different categories are not burdened unnecessarily.

They said UPCL had been told to improve basic facilities in billing collection centres across the state.

Talking to The Tribune, UPCL Managing Director SS Yadav said a proposal had been submitted to UERC. Hike in power tariff for domestic, commercial and other users is being demanded in order to improve electricity distribution system in the state, it was stated.

Residents expressed resentment against proposed hike in the power tariff and demanded effective steps for curtailing line loss in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply of electricity in the state.

UERC had not approved any hike in power tariff for the current financial year.