Haryana decides on no hike in power tariff

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (HSERC) has decided not to raise the electricity tariff for any category of consumers. While releasing the tariff orders for the state on Monday, HERC chief D S Dhesi and members Naresh Sardana and Pravinder Singh Chauhan also gave go ahead for prepaid electricity metering in the state and lower tariff for agro industries.
An official release said that the zero increase has been done in the wake of losses suffered due to outbreak of Covid-19. In addition, the work of installation of 10 lakh smart meters is already in progress and is expected to be completed in next six months.
This year, HERC has allowed the average revenue requirement (ARR) of Rs 27,836 crore, against Rs 28,805 for the year last financial year. The regulator has also denied Rs 850 crore annual equity to be charged from the commercial consumers or bulk supplies consumers, like the railways.
Now, agro-based industries will be charged Rs 4.75 per kilowatt against the rate of Rs 7.05 per kW for the connection up to 20 kW. Similarly, the regulator recommended the rebate of 5% for the consumers availing the prepaid electricity meters. This will give total benefit of over Rs 42 crore to consumers.
Haryana has already ordered 10,000 such meters through the two distribution companies — Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam. The meters are supposed to be used for the prepaid concept.
HERC has also asked the distribution companies to allow certain categories, especially the senior citizens to make the payment up to Rs 25,000 at cash counters of the collection centres. For general consumers, the limit of making case payment was Rs 5,000.
Much ahead of lockdown, the two distribution companies had presented the ARR before the regulator and the hearing was conducted and the regulator had to take decision on the same.
The domestic consumers using electricity up to 150 units per month will be given subsidised electricity. Special 10% rebate has also been allowed for the people having consumption up to 800 units.