Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 1: Electricity consumers, aggrieved by the proposal mooted by all the electricity supply companies from the state including Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Mescom) proposing an upward revision in the existing power tariff in the state, urged Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to bring down prices instead of permitting the hike.

The commission had convened a meeting in the auditorium at the office of the district deputy commissioner here on Monday February 29 to study the public response to the proposal to hike tariff.

Several organizations representing industrialists, farmers, home users and businessmen argued that Mescom, which has a record of near 100 percent recovery of dues, can sustain its expenses on its own without the need for a hike in tariff. They urged Shankaralinge Gowda, chairman of KERC, to reject the proposal and order to reduce rate of electricity.

Justifying the proposed hike of Rs 1.02 per unit which has been sought by companies, Mescom managing director, Chikkananjaiah, sighted high volume of power purchase from outside sources, inflation, cost of new recruitment of employees, etc as reasons for cost escalation which needs to be balanced through increase in revenue.

Leaders like Balasubrahmanya Bhat, Ramakrishna Sharma, Venugopal Bhat, B V Poojary and others, arguing their case on behalf of various organizations, accused Mescom of trying to shift cost of electricity loss during transmission, pending bills on street lights, water supply schemes etc from local administrations etc to electricity consumers including farmers. They pointed out that Mescom had paid Rs 83 crore as interest on power purchased by it from other sources, whereas it has not levied any interest on dues pending from other electricity supply companies. They insisted that if Mescom properly accounts for these things, there is no case for revision of power tariff. They said that the figure of financial shortage projected by Mescom is far from reality and advised it to manage its resources efficiently by collecting dues promptly and bringing improvement in management systems. Some consumers also felt that there is a case for fixing lower tariff within Mescom jurisdiction instead of uniform fixation of tariff across the board for all companies in the state.

Chairman of the commission promised to take into consideration objections and suggestion before deciding the issue. He said that public interaction on the proposed hike has been completed in four of the electricity supply companies, and this process is pending in respect of Hubballi and Gulbarga electricity companies. He told the reporters that the commission will arrive at a final decision, duly taking care to see that no one is unduly burdened, by March 15.