Gear up to pay more for power

WBERC permits producers to charge more, but industrial units get a break

Domestic consumers of West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) face a hike in power cost but industrial consumers may have to pay less.

This will happen if the rates fixed by West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) today for West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) which generates 2900MW, Durgapur Projects Ltd (DPL) with 403 megawatt (Mw) and DPSC Ltd (30Mw) are implemented.

WBPDCL meets 60 per cent of WBSEB's requirement from its four plants.

WBERC has allowed WBPDCL to charge more for power from three of its plants for fiscal 2005-06.

Kolaghat, which supplies around 18 million units per day to WBSEB, can charge only Rs 1.72 instead of Rs 1.82 per kilowatt hour (KwH) charged in 2004-05.

Power from Bakreswar can be priced up, from Rs 1.66 per KwH in 2004-05 to Rs 190 per KwH in 2005-06.

"WBPDCL was deprived from realising fixed cost which has been provided this time," said S Mahapatra, managing director of WBPDCL.

WBPDCL Bandel plant power will cost Rs 1.89 per KwH from Rs 1.71 per KwH.

The Santaldihi plant power can be sold at Rs 1.87 per KwH in 2005-06 against Rs 1.86 per KwH in the previous year. The overall hike allowed by ERC to WBPDCL stood at 34.32 paise.

WBSEB had applied for a 12 paise hike in average tariff from Rs 3.20 per unit to Rs 3.32 per unit in 2005-06.

Even if the 12 paise hike is allowed, WBSEB will be under strain, said sources.

WBERC has allowed DPL to sell 132 KV supply at Rs 2.06 per KwH against Rs 1.85 per KwH in 2004-05 while 33 kilovolt (KV) power can be sold at Rs 2.06 against Rs 1.9 per KwH.

Also, 11 KV power was fixed at Rs 2.21 per KwH against Rs 1.05 in the previous year. DPL consumer rates for consumption below 500 units by low and medium category industry have been reduced from Rs 2.3 per KwH in 2005-06 to Rs 2.17 per KwH in 2004-05.

Consumers above 500 units will pay Rs 2.25 per KwH against Rs 2.5 per KwH now.

Domestic consumers up to 25 units now paying Rs 1.65 per KwH will pay Rs 1.09.

Tariff for 100-300 units was however increased from Rs 1.8 per unit to Rs 1.82 per unit.

Tariff above 300 units was fixed at Rs 2.21 per units against Rs 2.15 per unit.

Power cost for commercial purpose was reduced from Rs 2 per unit to Rs 1.99 per unit for first 60 units.

For more than 300 units, the tariff was reduced from Rs 2.2 to Rs 2.18.

High voltage supply cost for industry was also reduced.

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Shocking tariff

• Kolaghat, which supplies around 18 mn units/day to WBSEB, can charge only Rs 1.72 instead of Rs 1.82 per KwH charged in 2004-05
• Power from Bakreswar can be priced up, from Rs 1.66 per KwH in 2004-05 to Rs 1.90 per KwH in 2005-06