The hiked power tariffs in the State could get announced by June 15 this year.
The State power companies have proposed a steep 28 per cent hike in the tariff. The revised power tariffs are however believed to be low in comparison to the other states, they claim.
The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) has started receiving and disposing off the objections before deciding the new rates. About 50 suggestions and objections have been received so far, official sources informed.
The Commission is also working on different suggestions, given by the users, to consider the same while deciding the new rates.
The Commission has recently called a meeting with the power companies to learn about their income and expenditures to get help in deciding the new tariff plan. Besides, the Commission has also received suggestions from its Advisory Committee. Sources claimed that big-time electricity consumers like Railways, Cement units besides Mini Steel Plant Association are not in favour of a hike in the power tariff.
Notably, no hike in the power tariff was witnessed in the State during the past around two years while a considerable hike in production cost of power units was registered in the same period.
In a bid to provide relaxation to the consumers, the State Government had, last year, given a grant of `492 crore to compensate the loss in the production and distribution of electricity. The sources claimed that a 10 per cent hike is likely in the revised power tariff.
Efforts are underway to give some relaxation to domestic users and farmers in the power bills whereas additional charges could be levied on the commercial and industrial units to meet the losses.