This story is from February 21, 2020

Power tariff in Assam may go up by 24% from April

Power tariff in Assam may go up by 24% from April due to a rise in the cost of electricity the state is purchasing from outside to meet its requirements.
Power tariff in Assam may go up by 24% from April
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GUWAHATI: Power tariff in Assam may go up by 24% from April due to a rise in the cost of electricity the state is purchasing from outside to meet its requirements.
Sources in the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) said it has become virtually impossible for the state-run power companies to continue with the existing tariff as PSUs selling electricity have significantly increased the charges in recent times.

While the power tariff may be hiked from the existing Rs 7.25 kWh to Rs 8.85 kWh in the domestic category, it may be increased to Rs 9.45 kWh from from Rs 7.60 kWh in the commercial category of the same range. Once finalized, the increase in energy charge per unit is going to be Rs 1.60 and Rs 1.85 for domestic and commercial category consumers respectively.
"The new power tariff will come into effect from April 1. By March 15, we will publish the revised rates," AERC chairman Subhas Chandra Das said.
Sources in AERC said the "costly power" procured for distribution to the state's consumers has compelled the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to send a proposal to hike the power tariff. While the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited is getting 380-390 MW power from Lakwa Thermal Power Station, Namrup Thermal Power Station, Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project and Myntriang Small Hydro Electric Project, it is buying over 1000 MW power from various PSUs. The demand for power in Assam is 1400 MW during peak hours.

Domestic and commercial users under the 25 kW range, who constitute the major portion of the pwer consumers, are going to be the worst hit if the proposed power tariff gets the AERC nod.
Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, secretary of Consumers' Legal Protection Forum (CLPF), Assam, said, "Unless the state's own power generation units are opened, Assam will have to buy power from the central government undertakings. As a result, we are seeing frequent tariff hike. But it's not a solution. Assam will have to tap its own potential to bridge the gap."
Last year, power generated from the state's own projects accounted for less than 15% of Assam's total power requirements.
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About the Author
Kangkan Kalita

Kangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers issues on health, education, stories of human interest while keeping a close watch on political developments and student movements. Reporting on environment and forest related issues and concerns of the northeast interest him equally.

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