Power tariff hiked in TN; low-end consumers spared

PTI

Domestic consumers, hut dwellers, power loom and handloom consumers, places of public worship and agriculture consumers using less than 300 units per month have been spared from the hike.

Power tariff for domestic and industrial consumers has been hiked in Tamil Nadu with effect from Sunday.

The hike ranging from 30 paise to Rs 1.10 per unit would fetch an additional revenue of Rs 1,651 crore to the State Electricity Board, facing a deficit of Rs 6,451 crore in the current fiscal.

However, domestic consumers, hut dwellers, power loom and handloom consumers, places of public worship and agriculture consumers using less than 300 units per month have been spared from the hike, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman D. Kabilan told reporters here.

Free power supply to small farmers would continue, he said adding the last tariff hike was effected on March 16, 2003.

The increase would be Re. 1 per unit for domestic connections consuming more than 300 units per month while industrial consumers would face an increase of 50 paise per unit in the High Tension (HT) category and 30 paise per unit in the Low Tension (LT) category.

For the first time, petty shopkeepers consuming less than 50 units would enjoy a tariff reduction of Re. 1 per unit, Mr. Kabilan said.

He said the government was offering a subsidy ranging from 35 paise per unit to Rs. 1.70 per unit for domestic consumers, Rs. 1.10 to Rs. 1.30 for handloom weavers, Rs. 1.40 for power loom weavers and Rs. 250 per HP for agriculture consumers.

According to TNERC officials, there are about 2.32 crore power consumers in the State and 2.15 crore consumers would not be affected by the revised tariff.

Cottage and tiny industries consuming more than 750 units a month would have to pay 40 paise per unit more. Industrial consumers in the LT category with consumption of less than 750 units had been spared from the hike, Mr. Kabilan said.

Commercial consumers in the HT category would have to pay an additional 80 paise per unit while those in the LT category would pay 70 paise per unit additionally.

Cinema theatres under the HT category would pay an additional tariff of Re. 1 per unit while those cinema theatres under the LT category would pay Rs. 1.10 per unit.

For private educational institutions coming under the High Tension category, the increase would be Re. 1 per unit while government-aided educational institutions would need to pay an increase of 50 paise per unit.

Those private educational institutions under the LT category have to shell out Rs. 1.10 per unit while government-aided educational institutions would pay an additional 40 paise per unit, he said.

Replying to a query, he said the new tariff would be in effect till March 31, 2011