Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) today decided to increase power tariffs for various category of electricity consumers in the state. As part of the rationalisation excercise, the power regulator has also introduced slew of changes in the power tariff structure.
As per the GERC order issued today, power tariff for consumers of state power utilities has been raised by average 2.36 per cent or 8 paise per unit. The effective new rates for different categories of consumers will be in the range of 5 to 15 paise per unit.
Similarly, the average power tariff levied by Torrent Power Ltd (TPL), which supplies power to consumers in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Surat, has been increased by 2.27 per cent or 9 paise per unit. However, the new tariff will range between 5 to 20 paise per unit for various categories. It may be mentioned here that TPL had requested for 15 per cent tariff hike.
As a result of the moderate hike in power rates, state power utilities will have additional revenues of Rs 336 crore, while Torrent will be able to rake in revenue of Rs 75 crore.
However, the rise in power tariff will not put any additional burden on consumers as state power utilities have already lowered FPPPA charges or fuel surcharge for last two quarters and Torrent Power Ltd is likely to reduce fuel charges. In short, consumers' effective electricity bills are expected to be lower than the bills paid by them last year.
Meanwhile, the state power regulator has introduced some of the changes in the power tariff structure. "So far, there was a seperate tariff for BPL families falling under the areas where state power utilities supply power. Now, for the fist time, commission has introduced a tariff for BPL families of Ahmedabad. Gandhinagar and Surat, where TPL supplies power," said PK Mishra, chairman, GERC.
The tariff has been fixed at Rs 1.50 per unit for 30 units of monthly consumption, which is in line with tariff for BPL families in areas covered by state utilities.
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In the wake of difficulties in classifying consumers into different categories in the context of structural changes in the economy, the commission has merged all HT (high tension) tariff categories such as HTP-1, HTPIIA, and HTP-IIB into one category. "Also, a seperate HT category for pumping stations has been created," states the tariff order related to state power utilties.
"For Surat, HT tariff categories such as HTMD-1 and HTMD-2 have been merged into one category HTMD-1," GERC's order with regard to TPL says.