The proposal by Hubli Electricity Supply Company (Hescom) to hike power tariff by 75 paise per unit attracted strong opposition from the power users. At a meeting convened by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) here on Thursday the citizens and representatives of various organizations strongly vociferously opposed the proposal to hike the tariff and said the authorities should focus their attention on improving the quality of service and stop pilferage to overcome the financial crisis.
The consumers argued that the Hescom had no justification whatsoever for increasing tariff as it had miserably failed to comply with the directions of the KERC and was functioning inefficiently as a result of which the genuine power consumers were forced to pay more. In his submission advocate K N Pujari said, the petition by Hescom failed to show any valid grounds for the power hike. Last year itself the Hescom had hiked the power tariff and another hike was not required. Instead of passing the burden on poor consumers, the Hescom should explore other possible means so that the balance sheet is controlled. The Hescom has predicted a deficit of Rs 49.99 crore for the year 2012-13. This means that Hescom has no confidence of recovery.
President of Gadag Chamber of Commerce and Industry R K Rangrej said north Karnataka region was reeling under drought and under such circumstances, the KERC should outright reject the proposal to hike power tariff.
Arvind Pai from Kumta and others alleged that the Hescom officials were not responding to their complaints and were not conducting customer’s meet regularly. Keeping before his submission before the KERC, Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCC&I) Power Sub-Committee chairman A S Kulkarni said, Hescom is undergoing loss continuously for last four years. Unless the Hescom provides effective management, the common man is certain to be burdened.
KERC chairman M R Srinivas Murthy directed the Hescom officials to respond to the problems of the customers and develop the attitude of service orientation to address the emerging problems. He took the officials to task and has directed them to regularly hold meeting in every district coming under Hescom. He instructed Hescom MD Pankaj Kumar Pandey to monitor the meetings and see that the consumers’ problems are solved at the earliest.