GUWAHATI, Nov 21 � The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) has approved an average 13.1 per cent enhancement in power tariff with effect from December 1 next for the financial year of 2014-15. The Commission has stated that percentage wise the increase in the tariff for different consumer categories ranges from around 7 per cent to 18 per cent, depending on the prevalent and revised tariffs and cross-subsidy levels, without considering the targeted category-wise subsidy from the State government.
It needs mention here that the power consumers of the State are paying a Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPPA) charge of Rs 0.36 with effect from July, this year.
In terms of money, the power consumers belonging to Domestic A (1 kW to 4 kW) Category will have to pay an additional amount at the rate of Rs 0.31 to Rs 0.74 per unit, depending on the rate of consumption; Domestic B (5 kW to 20kW) Category consumers will have to pay the enhanced tariff at the rate of Rs 0.74 per unit, while the Below Poverty Line (BPL) Jeevan Dhara Category consumers will have to pay the additional tariff at the rate of Rs 0.21 per unit.
At present, the BPL consumers are getting a subsidy of Rs 1.10 per unit till November 30, this year. They too are paying Rs 0.36 as FPPPA Charge.
The rate of tariff increase per unit ranges between 0.21 paisa for the BPL (Jeevan Dhara) Category to maximum Rs 1.19 for Oil and Coal Categories with no enhancement in the Fixed Charge.
For Commercial Category consumers, consuming between 0.5 kW and 2 kW, the enhanced charge is Rs 1.04 per unit, for the small industries of both rural and urban areas, with connected loads up to 20 kW, the tariff will be enhanced at the rate of 0.49 paisa per unit. And for the high tension industries connected load of above 150 kVA, the enhanced rate is of Rs 1.01 per unit.
In a press release issued by it, the Commission has stated that at the time of filing the tariff petition in February 2014, the average tariff increase sought by Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) was 24 per cent, over the tariff approved for the financial year (FY) of 2013-14.
