Bangalore : The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) today issued an official notification from the electricity supply companies with an instruction to increased power tariffs with immediate effect, which shocked the common man and rural population
Speaking on the occasion, KERC Chairman Srinivasmurthy said tariff will be 28.54 paise per unit in CHESCom jurisdiction and there will be only single phase power from 6 am to 6 pm in urban areas.
BESCom has followed the instruction and increased the price of 30.75 paise per unit while Gulbarga ESCom has not changed its tariff and is fixed at 29.48 paise per unit.
Further there will be only single phase power supply for the designated periods like ESComs, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCom), Mangalore Electricity Supply Company ( MESCom), Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCom) and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Compamny (CHESCom).
It is said that few months back, the State government had stated all the ESComs to file a petition before the State power regulator to review the tariff order that was issued in the year 2009.
Earlier the State Government had claimed that the subsidy component fixed by KERC is high and hence they wanted reduction in ESComs.
Totally five ESComs had in fact sought a tariff hike of about 51 paise a unit. However, the KERC had suggested an average hike of 34.16 paise a unit which roughly works out to a hike of about 7.5 per cent.
It is also said that, the industrialists in city had opposed the proposal, terming it unwarranted and due to this several industrial units will be closed down.
Further, there is ongoing debate whether the KERC can give out a tariff order in the wake of the announcement of ZP and TP elections dates.