Haryana cuts power tariff

With assembly elections due this year, Haryana announced Thursday that it was slashing the electricity rates for domestic and agriculture consumers.

The new rates would come into effect this month.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said domestic consumers would pay the same tariff they paid before April 2013 when the rates were hiked.

Agriculture consumers would pay 10 paisa instead of 25 paisa per unit.

"As a result, 38 lakh domestic and 5.50 lakh farmers will benefit," Hooda said.

He said the government had withdrawn the tariff increases made from April 2013 for domestic consumers consuming up to 500 units a month.

The decision would cost the government nearly Rs.600 crore.