The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) on Monday announced an average tariff hike of 12.08%, which would be levied on consumers retrospectively from April 1, 2012.
PSERC chairperson Romila Dubey said the hike for domestic consumers who consume less than 100 units would be 53 paise a unit, for consumers using 101 to 300 units, the tariff would be R5.49 paise a unit up from earlier R4.96 paise per unit. Above 300 units, it would be R5.81 paise per unit from the earlier R5.23 paise.
For small industrial consumers, the new tariff rate of R 5.10 paise a unit has been fixed, representing an increase of 12.09%. For medium and large industries, including arc and induction furnaces, the rate has been set at R5.61 paise per unit. However, for railway traction, a minimal hike of 2.93% has been announced and will be chargeable at the rate of R6.03 paise a unit. She said that the hike would be applicable to all categories of consumers for 2012-13.
Apart from this, a 10 paise per unit tariff has also been levied for the first time on continuous process industry including textile, spinning and casting, which will be applicable from November 1 this year. Besides, a 4 paise fuel surcharge for metered category and R2 per BHP on unmetered category (agriculture pumpsets) will also be levied on all categories on account of 20% rise in fuel cost.
She said: ??We are having an average increase of 12.08 % across the board for the fiscal year 2012-13.?? The new tariff will be effective from April 1, 2012, Dubey said.
“However, power utility Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been allowed to recover the arrears (arising out of new tariff) in installments from consumers,” she said. Notably, the actual outgo for power consumers will be higher as Punjab government also levies electricity duty of 13 per cent and 10 paise per unit as octroi on energy consumption which is exclusive of tariff rates.
Dubey disclosed that power subsidy burden for the year would be Rs 5784.95 crore. The Punjab government, which has to give a commitment to the power regulator for bearing the entire burden of free power being given to agriculture and other sectors, gave its nod in this regard last week.