THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As per reports, electricity prices will be hiked soon. Announcement may come as early as next week. Domestic users will be the most effected as their bill will see a maximum of 37.5 percentage hike. A person paying Rs 1196 will have to pay Rs 1642. But people consuming more than 500 units a month will only see a hike of 13 percentage. However criticisms have erupted that this against the policy of LDF. According to LDF policy, big scale consumers should be charged more in order to reduce the burden on small scale consumers.

KSEB aim 8.5 percentage increase in income through price hikes. This a plan to place the burden of flood and other losses on the consumers. KSEB registered a loss of 1900.70 this year, says sources. The board’s plans to discourage the use of electricity haven’t worked as well as they would have liked.

Central government’s new policy that allows consumers to choose between electricity providers might have pressurised KSEB into suggesting minor hike for big scale consumers. According to government’s new plan big scale consumers can buy electricity directly from outside.

“It’s an absolute necessity to hike electric charges. KSEB have had a loss of Rs 860 crores in floods. Commission will take the final decision on this”, says M.M. Mani, electricity minister.