The power regulator has restrained the power utility UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) from charging the rural consumers as per the urban schedule of tariff. The regulator in its order issued here on Friday said that the only the rural schedule of power tariff will apply on the power consumers of the rural areas.
The decision of the regulator will benefit at least 50 lakh power consumers of the rural areas. The regulator has also asked the UPPCl and its four power distribution subsidiary companies to refund the excess money realised by it from the power consumers of the rural areas by changing the tariff schedule. The order of the regulator will particularly benefit the farmers, artisans and small and micro enterprise.
The chairman of the UP state electricity regulatory commission (UPSERC) DD Verma and member SK Agarwal in the order directed that whatever may be the hours of power supplied only the rural schedule of power tariff will apply for the consumers of the rural areas.
The UP power consumer forum in March this year had filed a petition before the regulator challenging the order of the UPPCl for charging the rural consumers at the rate of the urban schedule as the power supply to the rural areas has been increased to 16 hours per day. The regulator after completing the hearing on the petition had reserved its order on October 18.