The revised power tariff announced on Friday saw a five per cent hike. Electricity charges in previous years have witnessed an increase by up to 25 per cent. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) also waived off the fuel surcharge, which means the hike will be marginal for Delhiites except those in NDMC areas. The revised tariffs will be effective from August 1.
This time, the maximum hike among all categories of power consumers has been 50 paise per unit. Also for the first time, the Delhi Government announced subsidy to the users consuming electricity between 201 units to 400 units.
Consumers residing in areas where power is supplied by BSES will be the least affected with an effective hike of just 0.5 per cent in their electricity bill. Those in areas covered by Tata Power Delhi Distribution limited (TPDDl) will have to shell out two per cent extra than their existing amount. The highest effective hike of four per cent will be in NDMC areas.
The DERC has, however, decided to allow the discoms to continue taking 8 per cent surcharge so that past losses can be recovered. DERC Chairman PD Sudhakar said the tariff may go up in October as the regulator may impose the power purchase adjustment cost.
The DERC reviews the power purchase adjustment cost after every three months. Meanwhile, new slabs of 401 to 800 units, and another for those consuming 800 units and above have been created. “Those consuming more than 800 units will have to pay seven rupees per unit which is half a rupee more than the existing price of Rs 6.50 per unit which is the highest hike in this year’s revision.
A rate of Rs 6.80 will be charged on those consuming anything between 401 to 800 units,” Sudhakar added.
Keeping the fixed charges as it is, the commission has hiked only energy charges. For the first slab of 0-200 units the energy charges have been increased from Rs 3.70 to Rs 3.90. In the next slab of 201 to 400 units, the same charges have changed from Rs 5.5 to Rs 5.8. For 401 to 800 units, it has raised from Rs 6.5 to Rs 6.8, whereas those consuming 800 units and above will have to pay Rs 7 per unit.
The power tariff in the city was hiked by 22 per cent in 2011 followed by five per cent hike in February, 2012. The tariff was increased by up to two per cent in May, last year and again by 26 per cent for domestic consumers in July last year. In February, the tariff was again hiked by up to three per cent.
CM announces some succour
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday announced subsidy for those consuming less than 400 units which will effectively mean that the bill for a section of consumers may actually go down as compared to what they are paying now.
Reacting to the hike in tariff, Dikshit said the Government has nothing to do with the functioning of the regulator and it decides about the rates on its own. “We have decided to give subsidy to large section of the consumers,” she said. She said Rs 1.20 per unit subsidy will be given for consumption up to 200 units, while Rs 0.8 will be given as subsidy for consumption between 201 and 400 units. The Government has been giving Rs 1 subsidy for last few years for consumption up to 200 units.
BJP denounces increase
Criticising the power tariff hike, Delhi BJP targeted the Delhi Government for putting ‘additional burden’ on people, saying it clearly exposed the nexus between the private companies and the Government. “Common men will be hit hard as various services will become expensive as a result of power tariff hike. The Delhi BJP will launch city-wide protest to oppose the hike,” said Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel.
The Aam Aadmi Party also expressed surprise over the decision. In a statement issued by the party it was stated that opposing any move to increase the tariff, recently 10 lakh citizens had written to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, but the Government neglected the plea of the people and favoured the power companies. “It shows Government’s insensitiveness.”