In the election year, the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) restrained itself from power tariff hike. It approved average tariff hike of 0.77 per cent from April 1 as against a tariff hike of approximate 9.38 per cent proposed by petitioners along with retaining Rs2,342 crore as regulatory assets to be adjusted in future. Notably, the last year’s tariff hike was at 7.17 per cent.
While talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, MPERC Chairman Rakesh Sahni said, “No change has been made for domestic category except a marginal increased of five paise per unit in the energy charge monthly consumption above 500 units. No change has been made in fixed charges also while tariff for non-domestic category of consumers has been kept unchanged.”
Besides, tariff for Public Water Works category of consumers and Street lights for municipalities, Nagar Pachayat and Gram Panchayats were kept unchanged. A marginal increase of five paise per unit in energy charge and Rs five per kw in fixed charge were levied for street light connections of municipal corporations and cantonment boards.
Talking about industrial sector, Sahni said, energy charge for low tension industrial consumers having demand based tariff was marginally increased by 10 paise per unit. However, tariff for low tension industrial consumers having connected load up to 25 HP was remained unchanged.
In agricultural and other than agricultural use, no change was made for consumption up to 300 units per month while energy charges were marginally increased by five paise per unit for consumption in excess of 300 units. Tariff for railway traction and coal mines were also kept unchanged.
“As per directives of the State Government, the licences have proposed a flat rate tariff for permanent agriculture consumers. It has been proposed that consumers under this scheme shall pay at the rate of Rs1,200 per HP per annum,” Sahni added.
The Commission has admitted distribution loss for the three distribution companies East, West and Central as 23, 20 and 23 per cent respectively in the financial year 2013-14.