10% hike in electricity tariff in Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) has allowed an average 10% hike in power tariff for all categories, including the domestic consumers.

The increased rates would be effective from April 25, a state government release said here.

Though the three power distribution companies had sought a hike of 22%, MPERC yesterday okayed an average 10% rise, officials said.

There would be no hike for the domestic consumers whose consumption is 0-30 units per month (single point connection) or 0-50 units per month.

Half the domestic consumers fall in this group, the release said.

MP Power Management Company Managing Director Manu Shrivastava said after the hike comes into effect, the domestic consumers who use upto 300 units of electricity per month will have to pay Rs 2,130 instead of the current Rs 1,980.

The power companies were seeking hike in tariff, saying that the coal price had shot up to Rs 3,296 per ton from Rs 1,663 per ton in 2009-10.

In 2012-13, the tariff had been hiked by 7%.