Shock to electricity consumers as ERC spares none

Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has imposed unprecedented hike in power tariff, burdening all the sections of the society including the small vendors and service sectors.

The new electricity tariff will come into effect from April 1.  The consumers have to bear a burden to the tune of Rs 6,334 crores in the form of electricity charges, which comes to a whopping 23% hike. Domestic consumers will bear a burden of Rs 2,000 crores, while the small scale business units are levied Rs 500 crores.

No one is left untouched sugarcane crushing units, power looms, mushroom growers and aqua units also have to bear the burden of hike. The tariff on RTC bus stations and the Railway stations have been brought on par with the airports. One rupee more per unit will be charged on the electricity consumed from 6 pm to 10pm, as TOD (Time of Day) tariff for some industries.

There will be a hike of Rs 1.18 per unit, in townships and residential colonies. The municipalities and the panchayats will be in darkness as a result of the new tariff. After the death of YSR, the electricity charges were raised almost every year. In 2010-2011, the hike in power charges was Rs 1,000 crore when K Rosaiah was the chief minister. It was again Rs 1,000 crore in 2011-2012 and a year after it was Rs 5,000 crore in 2012-2013. Now shockingly the hike was Rs 6,334 crores burden on the consumers. 

Domestic consumers worst sufferers 

ERC had refused to consider the switch to non-telescopic method but it has allowed the Discoms to collect more from the consumers by introducing 10 slabs instead of 6. It is estimated that the domestic consumers will have to bear a burden of Rs 2,000 crores and the small scale industries will be levied Rs 500 crores. 

Rural drinking water charges to cost more 

The electricity charges for the drinking water units in panchayats have been raised from Rs 2.92 per unit to 3.42. In municipalities, the hike is ranging from 0.37 paise to 0.87 paise and in the corporations from 0.62 to 0.87 paise per unit. This will have serious adverse affect on the supply of drinking water everywhere especially in rural areas. 

Small-scale units on peril 

Small scale units are already reeling under severe power cuts and pressures mounting on them from the bankers to repay loans. In addition, the electricity charges have been raised from Rs 5 to 6.08 per unit a rise of Rs 1.08. It is estimated that the small-scale units will have to bear a burden of Rs 500 crores due to the hike in charges. 

Power looms on the verge of closure 

The power loom industry in the state is under severe distress due to power cuts and abnormal electricity charges.  Even then the Govt has raised the tariff from Rs 2.67 to 3.75 per unit. Even the dobhi ghats are asked to pay the hiked charges.  

Small units like sugarcane crushers and those raising poultry , mushrooms ,  rabbits, fish and prawns will have face a hike of Rs 3.01 per unit . Earlier it was 0.63 paise per unit.  Village industries and small-scale units will have to close. Even the prayer houses have not been ignored as the hike for them is raised from Rs 2.60 per unit to Rs 4.70. 

Bus, Railway stations bear the brunt 

For the bus stations and Railway stations the hike is from Rs 1.15 to Rs 1.19. An extra charge of Rs 1 per unit will be collected for the electricity used from 6 pm to 10 pm. Railway traction charges are raised from Rs 5.43 to Rs 6.36.  

Pan shops, xerox centres too not spared 

The small units like pan shops, xerox centres, hospitals and hostels will have to pay  Rs 5.40 per unit instead of Rs 3.85, if they use below 50 units or more. Power tariffs under telescopic method the fixed slabs are:

Big industries too burdened 

On an average the big industries will have to pay 0.93 paise more. Some industries will have to face a hike ranging from Rs 1.53 to Rs 2.40 according to the season. They also will have to pay Rs 1 more per unit, for the electricity used from 6 pm to 10 pm. The consumers living in townships and colonies will have to face a hike of Rs 5.68 as against the earlier rates of Rs 4.50 per unit.