Chhattisgarh power tariffs to go up

Low tension power consumers, which mainly comprise common man, are set to get a big shock in the New Year in Chhattisgarh. The state-run power company has proposed to increase the power tariff by nearly two folds.

The Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company (CSPDC) has proposed to increase the tariff for the customers consuming power upto 200 units from Rs 1.60 per unit to Rs 3.20 per unit. The hike is exact two folds of the existing power tariff for the common man in the state, which claims to become power surplus in next couple of years.

The commission had received the proposal and it would organise public hearings in Raipur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur to record consumers objection and suggestions before finalising the new tariff plan, Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission Manoj Dey said. Efforts will be made to make the new tariff plan effective from April 1, he added.

Last year, the commission had rejected most of the proposals of the company. A senior official in the commission said that the company had proposed to increase power tariff by about 20 per cent last year. But the commission increased the tariff by just 10 paise per unit for the common man.

According to the proposal submitted to the commission, the company had recommended to increase tariff from Rs 1.90 per unit to Rs 3.65 per unit for the consumer using power upto 500 Mw.

Those using more than 500 units and less than 700 units would have to pay Rs 4 per unit instead of existing Rs 2.45 per unit if the commission gives nod to company's proposal.

For the industrial power consumers, the company had recommended the hike in different slabs.

The proposed tariff is Re 1 per unit more than the existing tariff for the industry. For the units drawing power from high tension 33 KV line, hike had been proposed from existing Rs 5.40 per unit to Rs 7.20 per unit.