Rude shock: Residents condemn power tariff hike

Varanasi: Residents of the city gave a thumbs down to the state government’s decision to effect a hefty hike in power tariff for different categories of consumers.
Led by political parties, residents condemned the decision stating that it was a rude shock and the government wanted them to go back to the age of lanterns.
“The decision is anti-people. The government is harassing the common man by taking such a step,” said Kishan Dixit of Hartirath area.
Sandeep Mishra of Kabir Chaura said: “This is a regressive and exploitative move. The government wants us to go back to the age of candles and lanterns. It is harassing people who pay electricity bills honestly.”
Speaking on behalf of the Samajwadi Party, former corporator Ravikant Vishwakarma said: “This rude shock will make life difficult for middle class. People are already reeling under inflation.”
He said steep tariff hike showed the government’s inability to recover power dues from defaulters. “They are taxing ordinary people for failure of the system,” said Vishwakarma.
Congress Kisan Morcha announced that it would launch a campaign against the revised tariff. “What happened to the Yogi government’s promise of providing round-the-clock power in urban and 18-hour supply in villages? Energy minister Srikant Sharma may claim that the promise has been fulfilled and that the hike was on account of the service being provided but it is a farce,” claimed Congress Kisan Morcha leader Shweta Rai.
UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) had on Tuesday passed the new tariff order effecting a 12% hike in the lowest slab itself. The revised tariff will come into force seven days after UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) notifies and publishes in daily newspapers.
UPERC agreed to UPPCL proposal to hike tariff for urban domestic consumers in various slabs. The rates for consumption of 0-150 units have been increased from Rs 4.90 per unit to Rs 5.50, and from 151 to 300 units to Rs 6 per unit from Rs 5.40.
The tariff hike for 301-500 slab is the least (from Rs 6.20 per unit to Rs 6.50). Consuming more than 500 units will be costlier as it has been increased from Rs 6.50 to Rs 7.00 per unit.
Monthly fixed charge has also been hiked from Rs 100 per kw/month to Rs 110 but has given respite by discontinuing the monthly surcharge of 4.28% on bills.
Power tariff is being hiked after almost two years as the plan was shelved in 2018 in the run up to general elections.