Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 22: Electricity supply companies (escoms) in the state have recently approached Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) with a proposal to hike the electricity tariff. The companies, which have based their proposals on increased cost of operation, have sought permission to increase power tariff by a maximum of Rs 1.02 per unit.

The commission has invited objections from the general public for these proposals. The people have 30 days to file their objections to the proposals from the date they were submitted.

KERC chairman, Shakaralinge Gowda, said that hearing into the objections received from the people will begin on January 26. The hearing of petitions will be organized within the jurisdictions of respective escoms, he said. KERC will announce final decision after going through justification of proposals and after examining objections from the general public. New rates will come into effect from April 1.

It may be recalled that KERC had permitted only 13 paise hike in power tariff last on an average last year, although the companies had sought increase of price by 80 paise per unit.