Raj power tariff hike not to affect small domestic consumers

"It is the decision of our government, taken in the past, that farmers will not have to bear the burden of hike in electricity rates so the proposed revision in the power tariff will not affect them this time also," the chief minister said in a statement released here last night.

"The government would bear the hike and provide additional subsidy," Gehlot said.

He said the state government will provide Rs 2,650 crore annually for subsidy to BPL and small domestic consumers. "The difference in the tariff will be paid by the government."

Out of total 101 lakh electricity consumers in the state, 10.80 lakh are in agricultural sector, 13.28 lakh are under BPL category and 32.39 lakh are in small domestic category.

The state electricity regulatory commission yesterday revised the power tariff for consumers in the categories of domestic, non-domestic, agriculture, small, medium and large industries with a projected overall increase in the revenue by Rs 2,821 crore for 12 months.

The charges have also been revised in several categories and the proposed hike, second in 10 months, is nearly 18 per cent.

However, the chief minister said the power tariff in the state was quite low as compared to the tariff of other states.