Power tariffs up in Haryana; farmers, EWS category spared

Power tariffs were revised in Haryana, effecting an average increase of about 8.5 per cent, though farmers and those belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) have been spared.
The power consumers will have to pay more from April 1, 2015, as the hike in power tariff was announced today by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).
"Up to first 50 units the rate will be Rs 2.70 per unit as compared to Rs 4.93 in Delhi and Rs 4.52 in Punjab. In case of 50 to 100 units in Haryana it will be Rs 4.50 per unit while in Delhi it is Rs 4.51 and in Punjab it is Rs 4.52 per unit," an official spokesman said here.

For other categories of consumers, an average increase of about 8.5 per cent has been made in power tariff, he said.
The power tariff for industrial consumers has also been hiked.
In case of High Tension Industries, the tariff in Haryana will be Rs 7.46 per unit as compared to Rs 8.89 in Delhi and Rs 7.81 in Punjab. In case of Low Tension industries, it will be Rs 6.76 per unit in Haryana whereas it is Rs 9.97 in Delhi, he said.

In case of commercial category, the effective tariff of power upto 100 units consumption in Haryana will be Rs 6.20, whereas in Delhi it is Rs 9.59 and in Punjab Rs 6.53.

"Similarly in case of consumption of upto 500 units, the rates in Haryana will be Rs 6.20, while in Delhi these are Rs 9.59 per unit and in Punjab Rs 6.71 per unit, " he said.
On the farmers, he said, "the peasants will be paying only 10 paise per unit in the case of tubewells on which the meters have been installed, and Rs15 per BHP for the tubewells on flat rate basis as against the average cost of supply of electricity to the tubewells used for irrigation of crops as well as for horticulture purposes which is about Rs. 7.34 per unit".

He said the "major relief" for the farmers of Haryana has been made possible because of the commitment of the state government to provide for Rs 6,200 crore on subsidy for farmers in the state. The government has also decided to release 7000 additional tubewell connections to the farmers during the current financial year.
The spokesman said that it is for the first time that a special category has been created for economically weaker sections of the society.
"The tariff of this category of consumers is Rs. 2.70 per unit as compared to the cost of supply of Rs. 7.34 per unit. This category will cover consumers whose monthly consumption is less than 50 units. The intention is to target the economically weaker sections for providing power at subsidized rates. The benefit will be available to more than 20 lakh domestic consumers in the state," he said.