Pune:
Power consumers should be ready to pay more for their energy bills as the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc) has allowed additional revenue of Rs1,136 crore to the Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on its review petition over Merc's tariff order of September 12.
The additional tariff would be effective from December 1. On September 12 Merc had allowed additional revenue of Rs909 crore for the power utility and hence there was modest tariff hike of 3%. Acting on MSEDCL's review petition Merc has now allowed additional income of Rs1,136 crore and consumers in various categories would now be required to pay more.
On an average tariff of Rs4.07 per unit approved in September, the consumers would be required to pay an additional 22 paise per unit from December 1, which is a hike of about 5.4%.Energy expert of NGO Prayas, Shantanu Dixit, told DNA the power utility had asked for a larger increase in power tariff than permitted by the regulatory body. Hence, it is likely that the MSEDCL may challenge the Merc order in the appellate tribunal to get a further hike in tariff.
Another energy expert of Prayas, Ashwini Chitnis, told DNA the additional tariff hike had to be allowed due to an accounting error in the earlier order. But the tariff philosophy of Merc has not changed.
Industrial consumers will have to pay 29 paise more per unit, educational institutions and hospitals will have to shell out 42 paise more per unit, other commercial establishment will be set back by 44 paise per unit, and agricul-tural consumers will have to pay 12 paise more per unit.
Power bills for residential and commercial complexes will be dearer by 21 paise and 35 paise per unit respectively, while that of advertising and billboard companies will be 88 paise more per unit.Domestic consumers will have to pay 4 paise more for up to 30 units per month, 14 paise more per unit for up to 100 units, 24 paise more for consuming up to 300 units, 34 paise more (consuming between 300 and 500 units) and 40 paise more for those consuming between 500 and 1,000 units. )
Copyright restricted. Under license from
www.3dsyndication.com