Electricity tariff: Rates likely to be hiked for night consumption

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSEB, which has initiated steps to increase power tariffs to offset losses, may demand higher rates for night consumption. If approved by the Regulatory Commission, it will be the first of its kind in the country. This is in view of the difficulty of getting power from outside and the increase in prices. The KSEB will file a tariff petition to the commission before December 31. The new rates will come into effect on April 1 next year.

The electricity tariff was hiked for two years in 2019. It was supposed to be renewed last April. KSEB had not filed the tariff petition due to Covid, Assembly elections and disagreement with the conditions brought by the Regulatory Commission for fixing tariffs. A hike of 3% was allowed in 2019. The maximum hike is 7 per cent. KSEB will demand that the rate hike should be fixed for 4 years.

Pay revision has become a huge liability

KSEB has a bill revenue of Rs 13,521 crore. Rs 2921 crore is due. In addition to this, the board has a huge liability created by the pay revision. The pay revision is in line with the pay revision for government employees. As a technical group, salaries are set at a higher rate than that.