Dikshit defends power tariff hike

She also asked people to cut down consumption of power.

"The DERC has hiked the tariff. We have nothing to do with it. There is no alternative but to increase the rate as cost of power purchase has gone up significantly...We will continue to provide Re one subsidy per unit to those who limit their consumption up to 200 unit per month," she told reporters after a Cabinet meeting here.

For the last four years, the Delhi government has been providing subsidy of Re one per unit for domestic customers whose monthly power consumption does not exceed 200 units.

Noting that power consumption has increased significantly, she said people need to change their habit to control power consumption. "People do not have control. People use four-five air conditioners (in one house-hold). We will have to change their habits," she said.

Officials said as Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) announced a new tariff order, government will have to take a fresh decision as the previous notification would lapse when the new tariff comes into effect.

Power tariff for domestic consumers was hiked by a steep 26 per cent - the fourth increase in 10 months - which came as a shock to people already burdened by high inflation and petrol price rise. It will came into effect from yesterday.