THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Electricity Minister M M Mani’s ominous hints about an imminent hike in power tariffs notwithstanding, the fact is that much paperwork remains to be done before the hike can actually be implemented.
The reason is the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) is yet to finalise its new tariff regulations, under which distribution licencees, including the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), have to file tariff revision proposals. The norms are expected to be ready only by September. The commission had published the Draft KSERC (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Tariff) Regulations in December last year.
Under the new regulations, distribution licencees including the KSEB, will have to submit tariff proposals for four years at one go. The commission had held one public hearing on the draft. Based on the suggestions made at the hearing, it was decided the ‘trued-up’ accounts of the KSEB for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscals also would be taken into account for finalising the regulations. This process is currently in progress, commission officials said.
Once the commission finalises the regulations, the KSEB has to file its tariff proposals, on which a decision can be taken only after holding public hearings. Sources said the KSEB, which is crying hoarse over losses, is eyeing a 10 per cent hike in power tariffs.
M M Mani had recently told media persons a hike was unavoidable given the financial condition of the KSEB.Politically, 2018 is considered a ‘safe year’ for the Pinarayi Vijayan Government - which is in its third year - to introduce a tariff hike.Recently, the commission had extended the validity of the present tariffs till December 31, 2018.