New Delhi, Apr 21 (KNN) In a latest development, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) announced revised hiked power tariffs which is to lead to the closure of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, FOPSIA said.

The tariff for domestic consumers is increased by 10 to 14 paisa per unit while the industry sector received significant incentives.

In the new tariff order the charges for domestic consumers would lie in the range of 4.91 and 7.33 subject to consumption of units. 

Further, the fixed tariff rates have also been raised, and ranges in between Rs 25-40 per kilowatt.

Responding to the new rates, Badish Jindal, President of Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association (FOPSIA) said that the industry especially the MSMEs strongly oppose the increased power tariff.

He further informed that in the new  tariff order the fixed charges of Small Power connections increased from Rs. 85 per Kilowatt (KW) to Rs. 90 per Kilowatt along with this the consumption charges have been increased from Rs. 5.48 to Rs. 5.58 per Kilo Watt Hour (KWH).

Also the fixed charges for medium connections have been hiked from Rs. 100 to 115 Rs per Kilo volt ampere (KVA) and likewise the consumption charges have been increased from Rs. 5.60 to Rs. 5.72 per Kilo Volt ampere Hour (KVAH), he added.

Jindal lamented that this increase shows the negative attitude of the state government and electricity board towards the MSMEs. (With Inputs from a media report) (KNN/DA)