GERC hikes tariff in Gujarat

BS Reporter / Mumbai/ Ahmedabad September 07, 2011,

State power regulator, Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has decided to increase power tariff for consumers of state utilities and private power companies.

The hike ranges between 2.63 per cent and 4.68 per cent of the current rates for different segment of consumers of power companies.

GERC has allowed an average tariff hike of 13 paise per unit or 4.05 per cent of the existing tariff for the four state-owned power distribution companies.

The tariff for the consumers of Torrent Power in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar is hiked by an average of 4.68 per cent or 22 paise per unit, while in Surat the tariff is hiked by an average of 2.63 per cent or 12 paise per unit.

The company had proposed an average tariff hike of 90 paise per unit for Ahmedabad and 48 paise per unit for Surat.

The hike is considered to be moderate in the wake of the recent tariff hikes by Delhi, which hiked the tariff by 22 per cent. Rajasthan too had increased its power tariff by 20 per cent from the month of April onwards.

"The hike is moderate and would put a burden of about Rs 165 crore on the state consumers. The hike is also based on a judgement of the appellate authority to review the past hike. This added Rs 100 crore to the burden," said PK Mishra, chairman, GERC.

Following the hike, state power utilities would have an additional revenues of over Rs 600 crore, while Torrent Power will be able to generate additional earnings to the tune of Rs 165 crore.