Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 26: Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) is all set to bring out the revised table of power tariffs in the afternoon of Wednesday November 25. The electricity charges are expected to go up by 30 paise per unit, with effect from today midnight.

The hike in the electricity charges will add to the woes of the people, who are already burdened with the spiralling prices of essential commodities.  The hike in charges will be the same for all the three sectors, i.e., residential, commercial and industrial, it is learnt.

The electricity supply companies in the state had approached KERC with an application to permit a hike of 51 paise per unit, in June last. They had cited swelling transmission costs, high power generation costs payable to Karnataka Power Corporation, distribution losses, power theft and free power under various government schemes, as reasons for seeking enhancement of charges. The KERC, which invited objections for the proposal and held public hearings at various places in the state, is said to have decided to permit a reduced hike of 30 paise per unit. However, under the ‘Bhagyajyoti’ and ‘Kuteera’ schemes of providing 20 units of free power per month for the poor classes, the government will continue to bear the cost.

In their applications, the power supply companies had shown an annual loss of Rs 3,750 crore. It is estimated that even after the present hike, a loss of about Rs 1,750 crore will remain uncovered.

Power tariff had not been revised after the year 2006. Chamundeshwari Electriity Supply Company, Mysore and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company are the two electricity supply companies from the state that are facing the highest losses.