The people of Gujarat would now heave a sigh of relief as they will avail CNG, PNG and even electricity at reduced rate from the new fiscal.
While the Gujarat Government on Friday announced a price cut in compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) by Gujarat Gas Company ltd (GGCl), the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission in its order has enforced a price cut in electricity cost for consumers in the State.
According to Minister Saurabh Patel, the State-owned GGCl has reduced PNG prices by `2.77/standard cubic meter and CNG prices by 90 paisa/kg, with price cuts effective from midnight.
“As many as 12 lakh piped gas connections and over eight lakh vehicles in the State would benefit from the decision,” the Minister said.
The CNG and piped cooking gas prices across the country were poised to fall after natural gas rates were on Thursday cut by a steep 20 per cent. The prices of natural gas produced from existing fields of State-owned ONGC and Reliance Industries limited had been cut to USD 3.06 per million British thermal units effective Friday. The global natural gas prices too have been under pressure due to steep fall in crude oil prices, to which the gas prices are generally linked.
There was also good news on the electricity front, as GERC in its order has cut down the prices of power from 10 paise per unit to 28 paise per unit for various consumers across the State, both purchasing power from State-owned unit or private sector. Despite being one of the major hydrocarbon hub, with more than two-thirds of country's hydrocarbons being produced or passing through the State, people in Gujarat generally pay one of the highest costs for their energy needs.