Water Authority to raise tariffs; increase up to 30 percent; reduced rates for schools and voluntary organizations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The water authority will hike the tariff of large consumers like malls and super speciality hospitals to boost revenue. At present, such small and large enterprises are included in a single category called non-domestic. There are 1.84 lakh non-domestic connections. The rates of these are being raised. The move is to divide them into three or more sub-categories based on water consumption and fix different tariffs. The present tarrif for non-domestic customers is 641 per 10000 liters. It may be raised up to 30 percent. The new rate has not been fixed.

Meanwhile, schools, voluntary organizations, libraries, health institutions and orphanages will have reduced rates. The water authority board meeting approved to increase the rate for large companies and to reduce the rate for companies working as part of services. The board meeting assessed that the revenue can be increased without causing liability to the public. There are three tariff structures namely domestic, non-domestic and industrial.

KSEB model

• The plan is to bring a classification similar to KSEB's electricity tariff structure. Customers' information and their usage will be recorded in the first phase. Meter readers are assigned for this purpose.
• The data collected by the meter readers will be forwarded by February 28. Then the tariff structure will be revised and the customers will be categorized and published. A final decision will be made only after receiving and examining objections and complaints from the public.

Current annual amount receivable as per total billing: 2154 crores

Received in 2023-24: 1249.11 crores