Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 11: The people of the state will be busy celebrating a number of festivals including Diwali during October. Here is news that might dampen their spirits a bit. In all likelihood, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) will give its nod to the proposal of the electricity supply companies (escoms) in the state for a hike in power tariff.

All the escoms had, in June this year, approached KERC with a plea to revise power tariff by a whopping 88 paise per unit, which if considered, will result in quite a burden on power consumers. KERC is required to conclude its hearing of objections against this proposal within 120 days and pronounce its decision. This period ends on October 18, and in all likelihood, KERC will permit the escoms to upwardly revise the power prices. The actual extent to which the hike will be permitted, and whether KERC will give in to the demand for permission for an 88 paise increase per unit of electricity consumed, will be revealed then.

KERC proposes to organize public hearings relating to the above proposal, at the headquarters of the escoms in the state. Chairman of KERC, M R Srinivasa Murthy, said that the public hearing will be held during the second week of September, after issuing a public release about the dates of the hearings.