Power tariff hike in Tamil Nadu: TNERC extends deadline for stakeholders to comment

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has extended the deadline till August 24 for stakeholders to comment on the petitions of Tangedco to revise electricity consumption tariffs and other charges.
Earlier, the regulatory body had set August 17 as the last date to comment on the petitions. The extension for a week has been granted based on the requests from stakeholders that they need more time to review the petition before making comments, said a TNERC official.
However, the stakeholders’ meeting scheduled on Thursday and the public hearings on August 16, 18 and 22 would be held as planned, added the official.
With the extension of time for public comments, Tangedco which had been earlier ordered to submit the public comments along with their replies on August 22 has now been directed to submit their responses on August 26.
TNERC is supposed to review all the comments of the public and stakeholders and replies of Tangedco before coming up with their recommendations.
Tangedco submitted the petition in July seeking revision of tariffs. Stakeholders have been objecting to various clauses of the petitions alleging that the utility is burdening the consumers with indirect hikes.