From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: In an attempt to save the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL), the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has enhanced power tariff by Rs. 0. 69 per unit though the Corporation had demanded an average increase of Rs. 1.95.
It appears the average cost increase comes about 17 percent on the present average cost of supply. However, the power tariff hike is likely to be reduced as the Commission has hiked the power tariff excluding the subsidy given by the state government.
Chairman of SERC Monaranjan Karmakar, at a press conference here on Thursday said the Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) had placed a petition seeking a hike of 48.65 percent in an average keeping in mind the increase of per unit cost.
“The plea was processed by the Commission and a state advisory committee meeting was also conducted where details of the tariff were discussed among members. After due scrutiny of the petition, the Commission has decided a flat hike of Rs. 0.69 per unit”, he said.Power Minister Manik Dey, who has been hinting at power tariff hike of late on Thursday, said that the TSECL had submitted tariff petition for review as per the Central Electricity Law.
“ In the petition, the Corporation pointed out that the per unit cost of power has increased substantially after abrupt hike in gas price. Besides, the recurring expenditure has also gone up due to implantation of new pay structures for Corporation’s employees”, he said.
The TSECL which was once a profit making PSU of the government has been suffering loss to the tune of Rs. 40 crore each year since 2010 due to hike in the expenditure.
According to an estimate, the Corporation will be able to collect Rs. 40 crore each year addition after the recent hike in the power tariff.
Keeping in mind of the next year’s Assembly elections, Dey on Thursday declared that the government would continue to provide subsidy to the Corporation to keep the power tariff at low range.
“The government doesn’t want to put burden on already burdened people. The government will examine the decision of the SERC in detail and will take decision on the subsidy”, he added.