Tamil Nadu: Your power bill may go up by up to 50%

CHENNAI: If your bi-monthy electricity bill was 1,440, you can now expect to pay 1,725; if you used to pay 4,420, you will pay around 5,550.
From Saturday, Tamil Nadu increased the base rate for domestic electricity consumers to 4.50 per unit from 2.50.
Though the first 100 units continue to be free for all domestic consumers, the rate will go up for every 100 units over and above the base slab of 400 units (100 free units + 300 chargeable units). It will be 6 per unit for the first 100 units that exceed 400 units. The rate rises for every 100 units thereafter. Consumers using more than 500 units will be charged 8 per unit of additional units up to 600 units. From 601 to 800 units, the charge per unit has been fixed at 9 and from 801 units to 1,000 units, the charge per unit is 10. Above 1,000 units will attract 11 for every additional unit.
The tariff will be revised every July with a maximum hike of 6% based on the general consumer price inflation index.
A Tangedco official said meters for high tension connections were being reset to the new tariffs from Saturday. For domestic connections, they are yet to get instructions from senior officials on how to calculate the tariff for the next bill. "Since the new tariffs have been introduced in the middle of the month, a formula will be arrived at to calculate the bill. A certain percentage of consumption will be charged as per the new tariff. Subsequent bills will be charged as per the new tariff," said the official.
The new power tariff will, with the introduction of new category for common supply, hit people in small apartment complexes with a few having to pay four times the current charges.
While the common supply for lighting and motor pump and lifts in small complexes were so far charged under the domestic slab, the new system classifies them under LT-ID category, charging Rs 8 per unit apart from a fixed Rs 400 every two months. While 500 units in the old system cost Rs 1,000, the same consumption will now cost Rs 4,000 apart from the fixed charges.
“So far, we had been collectingRs 500 from each house as maintenance charges and were able to pay electricity bills, maid charges and other miscellaneous work. Now, we are left with no option but to double monthly maintenance charges. Why should common supply be charged so high,” wondered D Seetharaman of Kolathur.
Bigger complexes having swimming pool and multiple lifts were so far under commercial category and charged Rs 8.05 per unit. While it gives them minuscule relief to be charged under ID, they will remain in commercial category if vacant space is more than 25% of the builtup area. A Tangedco official said there will not be much difference if common supply is calculated under new domestic tariff.
TNERC also classified multiple connections in single dwelling unit under LT-ID category, with those having more than one connections in a single dwelling unit having to merge them or payRs8 per unit for secondary connections, unless they have valid proof the property is rented out or shared among siblings with separate family cards. TNERC said this is to prevent people from misusing the subsidy with multiple connections for same house and directed Tangedco to serve summons to households with multiple connections for regularisation.