From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) has finally proposed to hike in the existing power tariff to tide over the financial constraint.
The TSECL has been facing tough time following hike in the gas price, implementation of new pay structures for its employees and increase in operation and maintenance cost.
After carrying out annual internal audit, the TSCEL has sought 48.65 percent hike in the existing power tariff to get rid of huge loss.
The TSECL has already placed Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) for the 2012-13 financial year before the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC), which is mandatory as per the new electricity act.
The Corporation said, the expected total income at current tariff for 2012-13 Financial Year will be Rs. 488.01 crore while it will be Rs. 726.42 crore during the same period if at proposed tariff is granted.
The reason for abrupt tariff hike was because of increase in power purchase cost which is controlled by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), hike in the salary budget and increase in price of natural gas.
The expenditure for natural gas has enhanced to Rs 15 crore from Rs 5.50 crore per month after hike in the gas price causing huge revenue deficit over the past several months, said an official of TSECL here on Friday.
The higher price of imported power and transmission loss (about 32 per cent) have also contributed to increase the loss of the Corporation.
The loss of the corporation has increased to Rs 96 crore during 2010-11 FY because of hike in the gas price, main fuel in operating turbines.
According to sources, the expenditure of TSECL has increased by Rs 150 crore and of which Rs 135 crore is accountable to abrupt increase in gas price.