AIZAWL, March 5 - Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for the States of Mizoram and Manipur has hiked power tariff for the two States by 16 paise per unit from the existing rates, which will be effective from April 1.
The average increase of the new tariff for all consumers is 3.59 per cent, which is lower than the proposed increase of 6.74 per cent.
Mizoram Power & Electricity department has proposed an increase of 30 paise for the year 2017-18, according to which power per unit would cost Rs 4.75. However, this proposal was vehemently opposed by civic organisation Prism and Mizoram Consumers� Union.
The JERC, after conducting public hearing on February 9 this year, decided to hike power tariff by 3.59 per cent.
The JERC also approved Rs 310.46 crore for the annual budget of the State Power & Electricity department, against the proposed Rs 378.84 crore.
While the State P&E department estimated Rs 8.75 for purchasing power per unit from outside the State, the JERC estimated Rs 7.21 for the same.
With a population of just 1.1 million, Mizoram�s current demand of electricity is only 85 MW and majority of this is met from its share of power from Central sector projects.
P&E department said it purchased power at Rs 8.75 per unit from Central power sector and sell it to the consumers at highly subsidised rate of Rs 4.45 (Rs 4.61 from April 1).
The JERC also fixed power tariff for Manipur at Rs 4.90, from the existing Rs 4.64.
