Power tariff hiked in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI - The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) Saturday spared small households and powerloom and handloom units consuming less than 600 units in two months from a power tariff hike, aimed at mopping up Rs.1,651 crore this fiscal.

Free power supply to farmers will continue.

Announcing the revised power tariff, TNERC Chairman D. Kabilan said households consuming more than 600 units in two months will have to pay Re.1 more per unit.

Meanwhile the power tariff revision is a mixed bag with some segments getting tariff reduction and others having to bear additional cost.

The new rates are effective from Aug 1. The tariff has been revised after seven years.

The tariff hike ranges from 30 paise to Rs.1.10 per unit and is expected fetch the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) an additional revenue of Rs.1,651 crore but not sufficient enough to bridge the Rs.6,451 crore deficit this fiscal.

According to Kabilan, 2.15 crore power consumers out of the 2.32 crore in the state will not be affected by the rate hike.

He said the high tension (HT) and low tension (LT) industrial power consumers will have to pay 50 paise and 30 paise per unit more respectively from next month. Small shops consuming less than 100 units two months will enjoy a reduction of Re.1 per unit.

Cinema halls with HT connection will have to pay Re.1 per unit more where as those under LT category will have to pay Rs.1.10 per unit more. Commercial consumers (LT) with consumption of less than 200 units in two months have been exempted from the tariff hike.

Private educational institutions too have been subjected to tariff hike. Those falling under the HT category will have to pay Re.1 more per unit and those under the LT category will have to pay Rs.1.10 per unit extra.

For government-aided educational institutions, the hike will be 50 paise per unit for HT consumers and 40 paise per unit for LT consumers.

According to Kabilan, the total subsidy bill of the government will be Rs.1,652 crore this fiscal.

The government is offering subsidy of 35 paise per unit to Rs.1.70 per unit for household consumers, Rs.1.40 per unit for powerloom weavers and Rs.1.10 to Rs.1.30 per unit for handloom weavers.