Punjab keeps power rates unchanged for first time in 7 years

The Punjab government today kept electricity tariffs unchanged for the first time in the seven year tenure of the SAD-BJP regime in the sate.
Power regulator Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) today announced not to raise tariff for 2015-16, although it affected slight reduction in tariff for domestic and commercial categories with lesser power consumption.
The regulator also kept the tariff rate for industrial sector unchanged in the new tariff order.
According to PSERC data, Punjab had witnessed no increase in tariff in 2006-07 when Captain Amarinder Singh was the Chief Minister.
During the tenure of SAD-BJP regime which took reins from 2007-08 onwards, the lowest average increase in power tariff was marked in 2008-09 at 2.60 per cent, followed by 2.74 per cent in 2014-15 and 4.90 per cent in 2007-08, respectively.

However, the highest raise in power tariff during Akalis regime was witnessed in 2009-10 when energy rates were revised upwards by a whopping 12.42 per cent, followed by 12.08 per cent in 2012-13.
Notably, SAD-BJP regime has been facing severe criticism from several quarters, including industry and other stakeholders for selling power at "higher" rates than that of other states.
Opposition party Congress had even tried to corner the state government during Budget session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha in March, accusing it of failing in providing uninterrupted power supply at lower rates to consumers.