Power consumers to get relief soon in Punjab

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23

There is relief in sight for power consumers in Punjab. Come April, domestic power consumers in the state will pay slightly less for power consumption, while other categories will not have to face any tariff hike.

With Assembly elections round the corner and the Congress government under fire from the Opposition over the high power rates, the government is learnt to be keen on extending its largesse to domestic power consumers. The tariff for this category could go down by 25-50 paise per unit.

Highly placed sources in the Power Department told The Tribune that with the state power utilities, especially the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, coming out of the red, a part of the profits could be used to ease the burden on domestic consumers. Interestingly, the PSPCL has sought a tariff hike of eight per cent in its annual revenue requirement submitted to the power regulator in December.

The new power tariff is expected to be announced by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) as soon as it gets a guarantee from the state government for payment of subsidy to be given to different categories of consumers, mainly farmers. “We are awaiting a written assurance from the government for the power subsidy bill. Once we get it, the new tariff order will be announced,” confirmed Kusumjit Sidhu, chairperson, PSERC.

The subsidy bill of the state government in 2021-22 is expected to be over Rs 10,600 crore, including Rs 7,180 crore for farmers, Rs 1,513 crore for domestic consumers and Rs 1,928 crore for industrial consumers. Other than this, the arrears of the previous years are to be carried forward, taking the total bill for 2021-22 to Rs 14,000 crore.

Jasvir Singh Dhiman, president of the PSEB Engineers’ Association, told The Tribune that the state government is yet to release Rs 6,930 crore towards power subsidy for the current fiscal. “Giving subsidy to consumers is fine, but it should not be at the cost of the fiscal health of the state power utility,” he added.

PSERC seeks guarantee on subsidy payment

• With power utilities coming out of the red, a part of the profits could be used to ease the domestic consumers’ burden
• The new power tariff is expected to be announced by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission soon
• It is seeking a guarantee from the state government for payment of subsidy to be given to consumers, mainly farmers

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