Power rates unchanged in Delhi, fixed charge up for 3-5kw load

The usage charges for power consumers in Delhi will remain unchanged but a marginal hike was announced on Thursday in the "fixed charge" component of the power tariff -- between Rs 5 and Rs 75.

The power tariff consists of two components -- fixed charge and energy charge. The fixed charge remains constant irrespective of the energy consumed while the energy charge varies per unit according to usage.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) said the "fixed charge" will go up for users with load between 3kw and 5kw.

There will be no change in any of the charges for consumers with 2kw connection, who will continue to pay Rs 40.

Low-end users having an electricity connection of 1kw would not pay a fixed charge of Rs 20, down from the earlier Rs 40.

Consumers with 3kw, 4kw and 5kw connections will now pay a revised fixed charge of Rs 105, Rs 140 and Rs 175 respectively as against Rs 100 earlier.

The latest revision has avoided making any changes in energy charges. The last tariff revision was done in July 2014.

"There is no change in the energy charges (electricity rates) for all categories," DERC Member B.P. Singh said.

The fixed charge hikes will result in 0.14 to 1.13 per cent increase in power bills of domestic consumers having electricity load of between 3kw and 5kw.

Aiming to help consumers running small-scale commercial establishments, the Commission has extended the domestic category facility to all units having up to 5kw load.

Earlier, this facility was limited to consumers in slum areas only but now it will be applicable across the city.

"Gaushalas" (cow sheds) and paying guest accommodations registered under any scheme of the Delhi government will also be covered under domestic category.

In order to promote pollution-free transport, the DERC has created a separate category for charging stations for e-rickshaws and other e-vehicles with a flat tariff of Rs 5.50 per Kwh.

"The Commission has also accepted the Delhi government's recommendation for funding an amount of Rs 694 crore towards Pension Trust, to be met by a surcharge of 3.70 per cent payable by the consumers," Singh said.

This is the third consecutive year when usage charges in Delhi have not gone up.

--IANS

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