There will be no impact of power tariff hike on domestic, tubewell and small non-domestic consumers in the State, as per the order of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).
The tariff determination is done by the HERC which is an independent regulatory body.A spokesperson for Haryana Power Utilities said that there were also no tariff hike for non domestic supply to consumers up to 20 KW load.There are only 6,000 non-domestic consumers having more than 20 KW load in the state. Therefore, most of the small shopkeepers/businessmen will not be affected by the tariff increase.
Out of the total 50 lakh power consumers, more than 48 lakh consumers have not been affected with this small tariff increase, the spokesperson added.“We have raised tariff for non-domestic category like commercial establishments and shops having electricity load of more than 20 KW by 0.50 paise per unit. There is no hike in power tariff in case of non-domestic category having power load of less than 20 KW,” he said. “In case of industrial category, power tariff has been raised by 0.50 paise per unit,” he further said.
Referring to the tariff increase in industrial sector, the spokesperson said the HERC has also simultaneously ordered reduction in peak load exemption charges (PlEC) for industries.
The PlEC have been slashed from highest rate of Rs3.80 per unit (recently reduced to Rs1.90 per unit by discoms) to Rs1 per unit (for consumption up to 50 per cent of contract demand) and to Rs1.50 per unit for consumption above 50 per cent of contract demand. The relief of about Rs2.80 per unit in PlEC which are for 3.50 hours everyday, is equivalent to about 41 paise per unit across 24 hours which almost entirely offsets the minor tariff increase of 50 paise ordered for the industrial consumers, he added.
He said the tariff increase (including FSA) which was ordered with effect from April 1, 2013 had already been rolled back with effect from January, 2014 onwards (for consumers up to 500 units per month). The same rolled back tariff which was applicable in March, 2013 has now been retained for this year. So practically, for consumers up to 500 units per month, the tariff (including FSA) which was applicable in the financial year 2012-2013 will be applicable in 2014-2015 ie no increase for two years, added the spokesperson.