The state-run electricity supplying companies have sought a 51 paise per unit hike from the power regulator, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC).
Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa today said a petition had been filed before the KERC seeking revision and the proposed increase — around 20 per cent more than the existing rates — across all categories of consumers. Power tariff was last revised in 2003 when the rates were increased by two per cent, he said.
Speaking after a meeting with officials of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited, Eshwarappa indicated that there was no power shortage as of now. While the damand was 98.66 million units per day, the generation was around 105 million units, he said.
A decision on imposing load shedding was expected to be taken in two days depending on the onset of monsoon, he said, expressing hope of rains within a week. Eshwarappa, who also met senior National Thermal Power Corporation officials, said work on the proposed 4000 mw power plant to be set up by NTPC at Kudigi in Bijapur district was expected to begin in November, adding, ‘the process is on to acquire 3,600 acres for the unit’.