By IANS
Raipur : The unexpected power tariff cut announced this week for industrial and domestic consumers is estimated to cost the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) Rs.4.23 billion a year, officials said Wednesday.
“CSEB will suffer a loss of about Rs.4.23 billion annually because of Monday’s announcements of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission to slash power tariffs,” a CSEB official told IANS Wednesday.
The tariff cut will be effective from Nov 1, the seventh foundation anniversary of the state.
The regulatory commission announced new tariffs Monday that reduced industrial tariff to Rs.3.72 from Rs.3.90 per unit. Industries have to however pay 30 percent higher for every unit of electricity they use during the peak hours of 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Domestic consumers will pay Rs.1.60 per unit if monthly consumption is up to 200 units, Rs.1.95 per unit if consumption is up to 500 units and Rs.2.45 per unit if consumption is up to 700 units. For below poverty line families (BPL), the tariff remained unchanged at Rs.1.57 per unit. The state government pays the power bill of BPL families.
“The commission slashed tariffs, rejecting a hike proposal of CSEB. Besides revenue loss, the decision will have some bearing on building power infrastructure as CSEB will struggle to get additional money to boost the power transmission set-up,” a CSEB official pointed out.
He also claimed that Chhattisgarh presently has the lowest tariff rate in the country with per unit tariff cut by 47 paise during the past 18 months.