Consumers oppose discoms' proposal to hike power tariff

Domestic consumers, commercial users, farmers and a host of other organizations today opposed the distribution companies' proposal to increase electricity tariff during a public hearing before the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC).
Both distribution companies - North and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited - had in December 2016 filed a tariff petition before the Commission seeking an increase of upto 100 per cent in the tariff for 2017-18 in certain categories of power consumers.
A two-day public hearing, which began today at the Commission's headquarters here, would continue tomorrow.
Commission chairman S K Negi and members Rajiv Amit and R K Choudhary gave a patient hearing to the objections and suggestions from consumers.

Industrialists, steel manufacturers, Railways and other stake holders would present their views before the Commssion tomorrow.
During today's public hearing consumers opined that they should not be made victim for the inefficiency of the distribution companies.

Pramod Kumar Sharma, president of Vaishali Vidyut Upbhokta Sangh, said at present farmers were being charged Rs 120 per hp per month, which the discoms have proposed to make Rs 950 per hp per month.
Even domestic power consumers of urban areas would have to pay double the energy charge if the discoms' petition was accepted by the Commission, he said.
The Commission has already held its hearing in Muzaffarpur, Saran and Darbhanga divisions on February 17, Bhagalpur and Munger on February 20, Purnea and Saharsa on February 21 and Gaya on February 23.

The Commission was expected to pronounce its tariff order by the middle of March.