Punjab CM: Rs 682 cr power relief for 69 lakh domestic consumers

Chandigarh, May 28

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday said the massive cut, ranging from 50 paise to Rs 1 per unit, in domestic power tariff will provide major relief to domestic consumers, especially the poor, who are already reeling under financial problems due to the pandemic.

This is the second year in a row that the power tariff for domestic consumption in the state has been reduced. The domestic power rates had been cut down by 50 paise per unit by the regulator in 2020 too.

While pointing out that the decision of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to reduce the domestic tariff would bring relief to the tune of Rs 682 crore for 69 lakh domestic consumers in the state, the Chief Minister also hailed the decision of the regulator not to increase tariff for commercial consumers as well as small and medium industry amid the pandemic. Even the hike in tariff for industrial users was quite marginal, he pointed out, adding that this would also come as a relief to industry, which had been severely impacted by the lockdowns.

The industry has been getting power subsidy from the state government since 2017, when the tariff was reduced to Rs 5 per unit as variable cost. Soon after coming to power, the Capt Amarinder Singh government had announced its decision to subsidise power for the industry. — TNS

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