Another Shock, Power Costlier

Electricity rates across the state went up on Monday by an average of 32 paise a unit. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, which announced the increase, described it as the “bare minimum.”

Electricity rates across the state went up on Monday by an average of 32 paise a unit. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, which announced the increase, described it as the “bare minimum.”

“The revised tariff will come into effect for electricity consumed from the first meter reading date falling on or after May 1,” said M R Sreenivasa Murthy, Chairman, KERC.

The hike ranges from 20 to 50 paise, depending on the type of connection and the units consumed.

In a move welcomed by trade bodies, the commission has increased the quota for high tension commercial users in the BBMP area from 1 lakh to 2 lakh units.

“The subsidy the government will have to pay to cover the cost of power supply to irrigation pump sets and other consumers has increased to `6,308 crore for 2014-15. An additional subsidy of `965 crore will be given to the Escoms for extra power supplied in 2012-13,” Murthy said.

The increase in the subsidy is warranted by an increase in the number of pumpsets.

Urban domestic customers consuming up to 30 units a month will pay `2.70 a unit. Those consuming between 31 and 100 units pay `4. The increase is 40 paise for consumption beyond 101 units. It is `5.25 a unit for consumption from 101 to 200 units, and `6.25 for usage beyond 200 units a month. 

Rural consumers pay Rs 2.60 a unit for usage of up to 30 units, Rs 3.70 for 31 to 100 units, Rs 4.95 for 101 to 200 units and Rs 5.75 for every unit beyond 200.

For urban private educational institutions, private hospitals, nursing homes, the new tariff is Rs 6 a unit for consumption of up to 200 units and Rs 7.20 for more than 200 units. Rural institutions pay Rs 5.50 a unit for up to 200 units and Rs 6.70 for every unit beyond 200.

Users of irrigation pumpsets above 10 HP power pay Rs 2.15 a unit. For Bangalore consumers using time-of-day tariffs, the commission has reduced the cost of energy supplied between 10 pm and 6 am by Rs 1.25 a unit and hiked the rates for power between 6 pm and 10 pm by `1 a unit.

Water supply installations will now have to pay 20 paise more per unit and the BMRCL will have to pay 40 paise more per unit. High tension residential apartments will pay Rs 5.30 a unit.

Slab System

The slab system method for tariff means that you will be billed for the number of units consumed based on the tariff for that range of units. For example, if you consume 250 units a month, you will be billed at Rs 2.70 a unit for 30 units, Rs 4 a unit for units 31 to 100, Rs 5.25 a unit for unit 101 to 200 and Rs 6.25 a unit for units 201 to 250.

Siddaramaiah Defends Hike

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the proposal of Escoms which sought revision of power tariff.Asked whether the revision would affect farmers and people who were already affected by drought and crop loss, he said the hike is inevitable to save Escoms from financial crisis.

However, he clarified that he is not aware of the percentage of hike and new tariff.

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