Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 12: The Electricity Supply Companies (Escoms) in Karnataka have submitted a proposal to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) seeking a significant hike in power tariffs for the financial year 2026-27.

The five Escoms—Bescom, Mescom, Cescorp, Hescom, and Gescom—have collectively requested an average increase of 64 paise per unit across all consumer categories.

Revenue gap cited as reason

According to the petition filed before the commission, the power companies have cited a substantial revenue gap and the increasing cost of power procurement as the primary reasons for the proposed hike. The companies stated that the current tariff structure is insufficient to cover the rising operational expenses and the costs incurred in maintaining the power distribution infrastructure.

Public hearings to follow

The KERC will now review the petitions and conduct a series of public hearings across the state to gather feedback from various stakeholders, including industrial bodies, farmers’ associations, and domestic consumers. Following these consultations, the commission will take a final call on the percentage of the hike that will be permitted.

Impact on consumers

If the proposal is approved in its current form, it is expected to put an additional financial burden on domestic and industrial consumers. However, sources indicate that the state government may intervene to ensure that the hike does not drastically affect the common man, especially in the wake of existing subsidy schemes.

The final tariff order is expected to be announced by the end of March or early April, to be effective from the new financial year starting April 1.