The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has approved a “marginal” hike in the power tariff for domestic consumers, which comes after a gap of two decades.
The new tariff for implementation in the purview of AP Southern Discom, AP Central Discom and AP Eastern Discom is as follows: For 0-30 units the APERC approved ₹1.90, a rise of 45 paise per unit from the existing ₹1.45. For 31-75 units, the per unit tariff has been increased from ₹2.09 to ₹3. The 76-125 units segment will be paying ₹4.50 a unit against the existing ₹3.10. The 126-225 units category will pay ₹6 against the existing ₹4.43 per unit. The 226-400 category, now charged ₹7.59 per unit, will have to pay ₹8.75. Those consuming more than 400 units and currently paying ₹9.20 will have to pay ₹9.75, which is 55 paise more per unit.
APERC Chairman Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, who announced the tariff proposals along with the panel members T. Ram Singh and P. Rajagopal here on Wednesday, called the tariff revision as “unavoidable” to ensure the sustenance of the distribution companies (Discoms), which he said were bleeding due to heavy losses.
He said the introduction of a common telescopic system (single group) would rectify the anomaly of a sudden jump in CC charges with the difference of one unit in the existing grouping system.
Additional revenue
Justice Reddy said the hike would yield an additional collective revenue of a mere ₹1,400 crore to the three Discoms. “At the same time, the State is committed to extending subsidy of ₹11,123 crore to the subsidised consumers”, he added. Industries have been permitted up to 150 HP under LT supply, heeding to a request from MSMEs.
As part of the tariff structure rationalisation measures, the commission has merged the sub-categories of religious places consuming less than 2 kW and more than 2kW and reduced the tariff from the present ₹4.80 per kWh to ₹3.85 per kWh.
The ‘Goshalas’, currently billed under Category IV-C, have been brought under religious category and a tariff of ₹3.85/unit is pegged. Redefining the ‘corporate farmer’, the APERC included cooperative societies and body of individuals undertaking farming activities and made them eligible for free power supply category, providing a big relief to farmers paying income tax.
Justice Reddy later inaugurated the Inter-circle men’s hockey and kabaddi, women’s games and cultural events for AP Southern Discom employees.
