Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Regulatory Authority has given permission to increase electricity tariff in Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the electricity tariff hike came into effect yesterday. Electricity charges for households have been hiked from 12 percent to 52 percent. Meanwhile, 100 units of free electricity for houses will continue to be provided.
Considering the financial burden on the Tamil Nadu Government and the fact that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is running at a heavy loss, the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to increase the electricity tariff.
Accordingly, the Electricity Board has decided to increase the charges for electricity consumption and for getting new electricity connection and has submitted petitions to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission on July 18 seeking permission to increase the charges.
In connection with these petitions, the Electricity Regulatory Commission held public consultation meetings in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai.
Those who participated in these meetings strongly opposed the increase in electricity tariff. Moreover, political parties also protested that the increase in electricity tariff would affect the public.
But, “Compared to other states, the electricity bill is less in Tamil Nadu. Also, since the electricity tariff has not been increased for the last 8 years, now there is a need to increase the tariff,” said the Electricity Board.
Meanwhile, a case was filed in the Madurai branch of the High Court by some factory managements regarding the non-appointment of a legal member in the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Hearing it, the court imposed an interim stay on the electricity tariff hike until a legal member is appointed to the Electricity Regulatory Commission. Thus, Sep. as already planned. It became impossible to increase the electricity tariff from 1st.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government and the Electricity Regulatory Commission appealed against the court order. The Madurai branch of the High Court, which inquired into this, lifted the stay imposed on the decision regarding the hike in electricity tariff.
Subsequently, the Electricity Regulatory Commission gave permission for the increase in electricity tariff. In this case, the new electricity tariff hike came into effect from yesterday.
Meanwhile, free electricity will continue for up to 100 units of households. Electricity subsidy for cottage, agriculture, handloom, powerloom and places of worship will continue. It has been informed that the hike in electricity tariff will be in force till 2026-27.
Apart from this, the regulatory authority has also given permission to increase electricity tariff by 6 percent on July 1 every year. It has also been informed that those who feel that they do not need 100 units of free electricity can write to the Electricity Board.
According to the new electricity tariff, the electricity tariff for households has been increased from 12 percent to 52 percent.
Also, electricity charges for common use in flats have been fixed at Rs.8 per unit. Similarly, a fixed rate of Rs.100 per kilowatt per month has been fixed.
If houses are rented or leased in separate residences, contract document should be submitted. Otherwise, Rs.8 per unit will be charged as public utility electricity charges.
Similarly, if the same family is living separately in a house, they have to submit their separate family card. Otherwise, it has been informed that their household electricity connection will also be charged for public utility.
The electricity board is expected to earn Rs 59,435 crore from the new electricity tariff. With this, it is expected that the loss to the power board will be reduced to Rs.748 crore in 2023-24.
Businesses: The level tariff has been reduced slightly after the small, micro and medium enterprises raised strong objections to the increase in electricity tariffs.
According to this, while it is planned to set a flat rate of Rs.100 per month for low-voltage connected industries and IT companies using up to 50 kW, it is now Rs.75, and it is planned to increase it to Rs.325 per month for 50 to 112 kW, and now it is Rs.150 and 112 While it is planned to raise Rs.600 per kilowatt for users of more than kilowatt, the level fee has now been reduced to Rs.550.
How much per unit?: As per the new calculation, Rs 4.50 per unit for 101 to 400 units, Rs 6 for 401 to 500 units, Rs 8 for 501 to 600 units, Rs 9 for 601 to 800 units, Rs 10 for 801 to 1,000 units, Above 1,000 units the charge is fixed at Rs.11 per unit.
Will Monthly Power Billing be applicable?: With the new power tariff hike coming into effect from yesterday, the tariff has been hiked on a different percentage basis for every 100 units. This has created confusion among the public.
When the officials were asked about this, they said, “Based on the old electricity tariff, the tariff has been increased by a different percentage for every 100 units.”
Meanwhile, the DMK should immediately implement its election promise of monthly electricity bill calculation.
Due to this, the public has also demanded that the burden of the electricity bill which has been increased at present will be reduced to some extent.