Bangalore : The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Monday allowed electricity supply companies (escoms) to hike tariff by an average of 23 paise per unit for year 2013-14.

The escoms had earlier sought a hike of 70 paise. The KERC, however, gave the escoms a free hand to revise tariff once every quarter as fuel cost adjustment.

The revision was put on hold on March 28, 2013, owing to the model code of conduct.

The revised tariff is likely to burn a deep hole in the pockets of consumers across the spectrum, including domestic consumers who will be paying an extra 20 paise per unit for the first 100 units and 25 paise per unit after that. However, private education institutes and hospitals under the Low Tension tariff, which were paying commercial rates, have been exempted.

The tariff hike which will come into effect from May 1, 2013, retrospectively, is of three types. The first category of IP sets, BJ and KJ consumers and the second category of domestic consumers have to pay an extra 20 paise per unit. “We need to balance this revenue gap by distributing to all consumers than any one section, “ said KERC Chairman M N Sreenivasamurthy.

Government subsidy for irrigation pumpsets users and BJ and KJ beneficiaries for the year 2013-14 has shot up to Rs 5,381 crore from Rs 4,722 crore in 2012-13. According to Sreenivasamurthy, consumption for these three is likely to increase to 16,679 million units (mu) in 2013-14 from the existing 15,318 mu in 2012-2013. With the increase of 20 paise, all the Escoms will be making a profit of 32 paise per unit for the year 2013-14, taking the total amount of profit to Rs 1,125 crore.

For domestic consumers, for the first 30 units, the tariff will increase to Rs 2.50 from the existing Rs 2.30. For the users between 30 units and 100 units,  consumers will have to pay Rs 3.70 as against the present Rs 3.50.

Those consuming between 101 units and 200 units will have to pay an additional price of 25 paise. With the existing price being Rs 4.60 unit under this slab, consumers have to now pay Rs 4.85 per unit. It is the same for those consuming 200 units. They have to pay Rs 5.85 per unit instead of the existing Rs 5.60. The apartment dwellers (under HT category) have to pay a sum of Rs 4.90 per unit instead of the existing Rs 4.70 per unit, an increase of Rs 20 paise.   

However, for hospitals, healthcare units attached to private educational institutes there is good news. Earlier, they were categorised as commercial, now they are under LT-2 category, while government hospitals and hospitals run by charitable institutions, educational institutions belong to government local bodies and aided institutions, which consume over one lakh units, are categorised under HT-2.
LT users of commercial establishments, street lights and small industries will have to shell out 25 paise extra per unit, while those obtaining temporary connection have to pay 30 paise per unit extra. Consumers coming under this category in Bangalore have to pay a sum of Rs 4.45 per unit for the first 500 units and Rs 5.45 per units for consumption of above 500 units. In other places (outside Bangalore) it is Rs 4.25 per unit of power for the first 500 units and Rs 4.95 per unit for consumers between 500 and 1,000 units and 5.25 per unit for those consuming over 1,000 units.

For LT consumers in Bangalore, the tariff is fixed at Rs 6.45 per unit for the first 50 units and Rs 7.45 per unit for those consuming beyond 50 units. In the rural areas, the new rates will be Rs 5.95 per unit for first 50 units. For above 50 units it is Rs 6.95.

However, the commission has not revised the tariff for drinking water supply in urban and rural areas for both HT and LT category.-DH News