Leh: Close on the heels of proposed hiked in power tariff in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration of Ladakh has also proposes measure to reduce revenue deficit.
Earlier, the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has proposed 17.74% hike in power tariff, while Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has filed a petition for 12.46% hike.
The J&K electricity regulatory authority has put both power tariff petitions in the public domain for objections and suggestions and the entire exercise would be completed by the end of this month and thereafter the Commission will take a final decision on the proposed tariff hike.
Justifying the tariff hike, the JPDCL has proposed an average tariff hike of 17.74% saying that projected revenue billed for financial year 2022-23 at proposed tariff is Rs 2733.65 crore. The proposed tariff would lead to increase in revenue by Rs 411.90 crore, the JPDCL has mentioned in the petition.
As per the existing tariff, the JPDCL charges Rs 1.69 per unit up to 100 units per month, Rs 2.20 per unit for 101 to 200 units per month, Rs 3.30 per unit for 201 to 400 units per month and Rs 3.52 per unit for more than 400 units per month.
However, it has now proposed Rs 2 per unit up to 200 units per month, Rs 4 per unit for 201-400 units per month and Rs 5 per unit for more than 400 units per month.
Moreover, it has proposed hike from Rs 5.50 to Rs 15 as fixed charges per kilowatt.
Despite the hike in power tariffs, the both Union Territories claimed that the electricity is cheaper across the country.
As in the case, the both union territories have common Joint Electricity Regulatory
Commission.
“To recover the revenue gap to some extent as submitted above, the Petitioner has proposed an average tariff hike of 14.66%. The projected revenue billed for FY 2022-23 at proposed tariff is Rs.6539.12 lacs. The proposed tariff would lead to increase in revenue billed by Rs. 7491.73 lacs,” reads the petition filed by Ladakh Power Development department.
LPDD also proposed to continue with the existing TOD tariff without any modification.
“kVAh tariff is already being applied to HT PWW, LT Industrial supply (For consumers with connected load > 50 kW), HT Industrial supply, HT-PTU and Bulk supply consumers and now L-PDD has proposed to extend the kVAh tariff to following consumers Non-Domestic/ Commercial-Metered Connection-Three phase- For all units.”
LPDD requested to grant regularization of the retail supply tariff charged by L-PDD to its consumers for the period from its date of incorporation till date or till the Commission approves the proposed tariff.
LPDD requests the Commission to approve the schedule of Miscellaneous Charges without any changes in existing charges.
The Commission has directed to L-PDD to publish a Public Notice under Section 64(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 inviting suggestions / objections from the public.
