Jharkhand's energy policy finalised

After a lapse of eleven years since the constitution of Jharkhand state bifurcating Bihar, the state government has succeeded in finalising its energy policy.

Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) chairperson Mukhtiar Singh told Business Standard that the draft energy policy was now ready and it would soon place before the state cabinet for approval and after getting clearance from the cabinet it would be introduced in state Assembly.

JSERC chairperson said that a provisional increase in the power tariff of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) had been made in August lasst year.The average increase of 18.5 per cent in power tariff would result in an annual increase of Rs 395 crore in revenue for the state electricity board (JSEB).

 

He said that for rural consumers, a marginal increase of 5 paisa has been made. For high tension industrial consumers, the rates have been hiked from Rs 4.35 to Rs 4.90 per unit, while fixed charges have been revised from Rs 165 to Rs 205 per month.

JSERC chairperson said that Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), which has been supplying power to industrial consumers in its command area, has applied for revision of power tariff. As the matter is in litigation in various courts, the tariff was not revised as yet. He said DVC also made representation to JSERC for allowing the power utility to expand distribution of electricity to domestic consumers in its command area. The proposal is under active consideration of the commission, he added.

JSERC chairperson said that the commission has fixed targets for distribution losses and collection efficiency during the tariff period by various licensees in Jharkhand.