Andhra hikes power tariff across categories

Power tariff across consumer categories in Andhra Pradesh has been raised with effect from April 1 according to orders issued by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Aperc).

The hike for industrial consumers under LT (low tension) and HT (high tension) categories stands at Rs 1.08 paise per unit and Re 0.93 paise per unit respectively. The power utilities have increased the slabs under the domestic category to 10 from the present 6 with a change in tariff for every additional consumption of 50 units.

For domestic households, a tariff of Rs 2.60 per unit for the first 50 units and Rs 8.38 per unit beyond 500 units will be collected.

A 25 per cent rise, excluding the 0-50 unit slab in the domestic category, and 22-25 per cent increase in industrial tariff has been allowed by the regulator, fetching an additional revenue of over Rs 6,000 crore.

The new tariff for industrial consumers (LT) now ranges from Rs 6.08 to Rs 6.75 per unit as compared with the existing rate of Rs 5-5.67 per unit. Similarly, HT industrial consumers will have to pay between Rs 4.90 and Rs 5.73 per unit as compared with existing tariff of between Rs 3.97 and Rs 4.80 per unit depending on the sub-station level (11 kv, 32 kv 220 kv).

Demand charge, peak load charge as well as periodic levying of fuel surcharge come on top of these basic rates.