THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSEB is preparing to impose more burden on the people of Kerala. A proposal has been made before the Regulatory Commission to increase the power tariff by at least 4.45 per cent this year. It has also demanded that a special fee be charged as summer charges for five months of the year from January to May. The board argued that it cannot go ahead without increasing the tariff due to the high cost of purchasing electricity.

At present, the board has a shortfall of Rs 6,400 crore. KSEB is incurring more than Rs 14 to buy one unit of electricity. The board has been demanding an increase of 30 paise per unit. KSEB is targeting an additional revenue of Rs 812.16 crore through the rate hike. A rate hike of 2.75 per cent in 2025-26 and a 0.25 per cent rate hike in 2026-27 has been sought.

In addition to this, the KSEB has also demanded that an additional charge of 10 paise per unit be allowed as summer tariff for the months of January to May from 2024-25 to 2026-27. KSEB chairman Biju Prabhakar said that new hydroelectric projects should not be expected in the present situation. "Last year, electricity worth Rs 12,983 crore had to be purchased from outside. We will have to buy power worth Rs 15,000 crore this year," he said during the hearing by the regulatory commission.