Power tariff hiked in Jharkhand

The Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) has hiked the power tariff in the state with approval of the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC). The revised tariff, an increase of 18.5 per cent over existing rates, will be in place from August 1.

JSERC has said that with enhancing of power tariffs,JSEB would add Rs 395.1 crore per year to its present annual earning of Rs 2,137 crore.

According to new tariff plan, consumers up to 200 units per month would be charged Rs 1.90 per unit from the existing Rs 1.50 while consumers drawing above 200 units per month would be charged Rs 2.40 from the existing Rs 1.90. Consumers of housing colonies, complex and apartments would now pay Rs 2 from the existing 1.65 per unit.

For non-domestic consumers, the new tariffs will be between Rs 1.50 and Rs 4.80 per unit depending on consumption of power.

However, the commission has allowed a minimal hike for consumers of rural areas and agriculture sector.

JSERC chairman Mukhtiar Singh said that JSEB had placed a demand of 32% transmission and distribution losses but the commission had allowed only 19%. He said that it was provisional tariff and the final tariff could only be declared after submission of audited accounts by JSEB.

JSERC chairman said the commission had revised the tariff in view of rising costs of coal, oil, power purchase from other power utilities and employees salaries.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had recently asked the Jharkhand government to clear its stand on the unbundling of its power Board.

Despite getting over a dozen extensions from the Union power ministry, JSEB could not implement the unbundling as per the electricity act, 2003, splitting the board into four separate corporations with the formation of one of them as the holding company and constitute the others three as generation, distribution and transmission companies.

The apex court’s order on unbundling the power board came on an appeal petition filed by the Jharkhand Vidyut Board Abhiyanta Padadhiikari Karmachari Samanay Samiti.