Haryana not to increase electricity tariff in 2014-15

The households consuming up to 40 units a month would be charged at Rs 2.98 a unit

Despite having a low tariff and higher aggregate technical and commercial losses in comparison to most of the neighbouring states, the Haryana discoms --- Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam --- have not proposed any increase in tariff for the financial year 2014-15 and the present tariff has been revised downward by reviving the old telescopic system of tariff for domestic sector, giving a benefit of about Rs 200 per bi-monthly bill.

This was stated by Devender Singh, principal secretary (power) and chairman, Haryana Power Utilities. He said that distribution losses in Haryana were 24.92 per cent as compared to 14.90 per cent in Delhi, 15.08 per cent in Punjab, 18.18 per cent in Rajasthan, 21.81 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and 18.09 in Gujarat.

He added that the average purchase cost in Haryana was Rs 3.95 a unit as compared to Rs 3.67 in Punjab, Rs 3.92 in Delhi, Rs 3.81 in Rajasthan and Rs 3.64 in Gujarat. Likewise, the cost of supply in Haryana is Rs 6.12 a unit as compared to Rs 5.33 in Punjab, Rs 6.40 in Delhi, Rs 5.97 in Rajasthan, Rs 5.54 in UP and Rs 5.08 in Gujarat.

He further added that the states having low distribution losses and lesser purchase and distribution cost have higher tariffs than Haryana and are still proposing increase in tariffs for the next financial year. The maximum tariff in Haryana for domestic consumers is Rs 5.98 a unit as compared to Rs 6.42 a unit in Punjab, Rs 6.16 a unit in Delhi, Rs 5.88 a unit in Uttar Pradesh and Rs 7.00 Rs  unit in Rajasthan.

Devender Singh said that there was a tariff hike of merely 13 per cent in Haryana vide Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) order dated March 31, 2013. Thereafter, there has been no increase in tariff. The tariff in Haryana for domestic consumers is minimum Rs 2.98 a unit and maximum Rs 5.98. The Haryana discoms have not proposed any hike in tariff for the financial year 2014-15. While Punjab has proposed a hike of 11 per cent. There has been an annual tariff hike in Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and UP of 10 per cent, 17.20 per cent, 17.8 per cent and 16.50 per cent, respectively during last three years. The hike in Haryana was 10.10 per cent during the same period.

He said that the discoms had revived the old telescopic system of tariff. Now, the consumers recording consumption of up to 40 units a month would be charged at Rs 2.98 a unit. The tariff for 41 to 100 units a month would be Rs 4.75  a unit, for 101 to 250 units, the tariff would be Rs 4.90 a unit. For units between 251 to 500, the tariff would be 560 paise a unit. And, for consumption between 501 and 800 units a month, the tariff would be Rs 5.98 a unit. For monthly consumption above 800 units, the consumers will have to pay at the rate of 598 paise a unit for the entire consumption.