Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 7: Goa’s industry associations have proposed a temporary increase in electricity tariffs to help the State procure additional power and address shortages that have led to load shedding for industrial consumers since mid-September.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting on Tuesday between representatives of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), Verna Industrial Association (VIA), Goa Pharma Manufacturers Association (GPMA) and other industry bodies with Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes.

Industry representatives said the additional charges would provide immediate financial support for procuring short-term power while reducing the impact of outages on industrial production and business operations.

Under the proposal, all 1,082 industrial consumers connected to 11 kV, 33 kV and 110 kV networks would pay an additional Rs 0.80 per unit during solar and normal hours and Rs 2 per unit during peak hours.

The State’s 177 large consumers under the 33 kV and 110 kV categories would pay an additional top-up of Rs 1.20 per unit during peak hours due to their higher power demand.

The proposed revised tariff structure is expected to come into effect from November 1. The Electricity Department is meanwhile expected to continue efforts to meet the State’s power demand through October.

Industry bodies stressed that the additional tariff should remain strictly temporary and be reviewed periodically. They said the charges should be reduced or withdrawn once power availability improves and market rates stabilise.

Industry representatives also urged the Goa government to bear 50 per cent of the additional cost arising from proposed short-term or spot power purchases. The remaining 50 per cent would be borne by industrial consumers under the proposed cost-sharing arrangement.

They said uninterrupted power supply was essential for maintaining manufacturing output, ensuring machinery safety and protecting the competitiveness of Goa’s industrial sector.

Fernandes told the meeting that the power shortage was primarily caused by a weak monsoon, which affected hydel power generation, and poor-quality coal that impacted thermal power production.

Industry bodies also appealed to consumers across sectors to optimise electricity consumption and avoid wastage to ease pressure on the grid during the ongoing shortage.

The meeting was the second round of discussions between industry representatives and the Electricity Department on measures to manage the State’s power deficit and prevent further disruptions to industrial activity.