Hike in electricity tariff in Jharkhand

"Though Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) proposed 31 per cent increase in the tariff, we have approved 16 per cent," JSERC Chairman Muktiyar Singh told reporters here.

JSEB would get an additional revenue of Rs 448.30 crore from the increase in tariffs, he said.

"The increase was needed following hike in the prices of coal, furnace oil and light diesel, employees cost, power purchase cost and inflation," he said.

The JSERC also accepted a JSEB proposal to add a new category (non-domestic-III) to charge Rs six on advertising and hoardings, he said.

The JSERC directed the JSEB to strengthen transmission and distribution network, ease tariff collection system, provide interest at bank rate on consumer security deposit, and do away with average billing by installing metres at the places of consumers.