Eye on elections, Punjab government cuts power tariff by up to Re 1 per unit for domestic consumers

Ruchika M Khanna 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, May 28

With an eye on the upcoming Assembly elections, the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Government has announced a cut of 50 paise to Re 1 per unit for domestic power consumers in the state. 

The tariff for the commercial consumers and small and medium industry will remain unchanged, while there is a negligible (less than 2 per cent) increase in tariff for large industrial consumers. 

The per unit tariff for domestic consumers with load upto 2kW and consumption slabs of 0 to 100 units and 101 to 300 units has been reduced by Re 1 and 50 paise, respectively.

For domestic consumers having load between 2kW and up to 7kW and for consumption slabs of 0 to 100 units and 101 to 300 units, the rates have been reduced by 75 paise and 50 paise, respectively.

This will result in financial relief to the tune of Rs 682 crore to these consumers. The new tariff order, announced by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), will be applicable from June 1 to March 3, 2022, commission Chairman Vishwajit Khanna told The Tribune.

The previous year’s tariff, which was delayed because of the lockdown last year, will remain in force till end of May now. 

In another relief for the industry, the special night tariff has been allowed to continue this year, if these consumers use power exclusively between 10 pm and 6 am. The facility granted to industry, allowing them to use power for additional four hours between 6 am to 10 am throughout the year at the normal tariff. 

The industry has been offered reduced  energy charge for consumption of power exceeding the threshold limit.  The commission has decided to continue with its policy of encouraging the industry in promoting the productive use of surplus power by offering lower energy rate of Rs 4.86/kVAh for consumption of power exceeding the threshold limit.