HIKE In Power Tariff - Aam Aadmi To Bears Brunt

HIKE In Power Tariff – Aam Aadmi To Bears Brunt

In 6 Years,Tariff In Non-Metered Hiked Between 24% to 225%; Metered Areas Face 33 To 100% Per Unit Hike
While the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has approved a fresh hike of around eight per cent in power tariff, official figures reveal that 11 lakh consumers in J&K have been subjected to an unprecedented and arbitrary hike in power charges in the past six years. 

Since 2006-07, the data reveals that consumers in non-metered areas have witnessed an increase of 24 percent to 225 percent in power tariff. Also, the metered areas in the State have experienced 33 to 100 per cent per-unit hike during this period.
Notwithstanding this unjustified hike, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission has reportedly approved an average 8.5 percent increase in power tariff for the 2013-14 financial year, with eight percent hike for domestic category. But on the other hand, this hike has been put at just 2 percent for the central and state government departments, though many of them happen to be the biggest defaulters on account of power dues.
In non-metered category, consumers having an agreement for ¼ Kilowatt (kW) have been subjected to 122 percent increase in power tariff over the past six years. In 2012-13 financial year, the consumers in this category paid Rs 89 per month as against Rs 40 in 2006-07.
Similarly, there has been 126-percent increase in power tariff for consumers having an agreed load of 1/4kW to ½ kW. At present this slab is being charged Rs 260 per month as against Rs 115 six years back.
For ½ kW up to ¾ kW category, there has been an increase of 24 percent (from Rs 320 to Rs 397). For ¾ kW upto 1 kW category, the hike is around 66 percent (from Rs 320 to Rs 534.) And above 1 kW to 2 kW category consumers, the increase in tariff has been 225 percent (Rs 320 in 2006-07 to Rs 1041 at present).
METERED AREAS
During the financial year 2006-2007, the Power Development Department would charge 0.85 paisa per unit of electricity up to the limit of 30 units/month consumed by a household. At present, the current rate for the power consumption up to 30 units is Rs 1.19 per unit, signifying an increase of 40 percent per unit.
Similarly for next 31-50 units, the PDD would charge 0.85 paisa per unit in 2006-07 which, at present, stands at Rs 1.54 per unit, implying an increase of 81 percent per unit.
For next level between 51-100 units, the increase in power tariff per unit has been 33 percent. The present rate per unit under this slab is Rs 1.54 which earlier was Rs 1.15. For another slab from 200 to 400 units, the price per unit has doubled during the last six years. Earlier consumers were charged Rs 1.45 per unit which has been increased to Rs 2.91 at present.
In “above 400 units slab”, there has been 45 percent hike per unit. The current rate is Rs 2.91 as compared to Rs 2.00 per unit in 2006-07.

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