OERC says no to power tariff hike

Bhubaneswar: For the second year in a row, the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) on Thursday said power tariff will not be hiked for 2023-24. However, the commission has given several concessions to consumers.
Tariff of cold storage has been reduced by Rs 1.60 per unit in high tension and low tension, which were Rs 4.60 and Rs 4.70 per unit earlier. They will now pay Rs 3 per unit. OERC has withdrawn delayed payment surcharge or penalty for consumers which was earlier 1% of the billed value for each month of delay.
The LT domestic and single phase general purpose (who use electricity for irrigation purposes) category of consumers will get four per cent rebate over and above the normal rebate they get on the bill while paying it through the digital mode. Earlier, they were receiving a three per cent rebate. This rebate will be applicable on the current month bill, if paid in full, said the order.
Priyabrata Patnaik, secretary and director of regulatory affairs, OERC, said rural consumers will get 10 paisa per unit rebate on their bill compared to urban consumers.
“This time, we have initiated a new thing. For the development of the railway sector in Odisha, railways have been given 25 paise per unit rebate for all the units consumed in addition to all other rebates,” he added.