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Assam industry body raises concern over power tariff hike

Updated: Nov 25, 2013 03:16:26pm
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Guwahati, Nov 25 (KNN) The North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) has raised serious concern over the approval of increasing the power tariff by the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) for domestic as well as small industry consumers.

AERC has approved the enhancement of power tariff for all consumers under the Assam Power Distribution Company (APDCL) for the period 2013-14 to 2015-16, to be effective from December-1.

In a statement, NESSIA State President, Sailen Baruah urged AERC to review the tariff approval in domestic and HT small industry consumers for the socio-economic development of the state.

In the case of fixed charge, NESSIA has been demanding the removal of fixed charge from all categories of consumers.

Fixed charge is the charge to recover the expenditure incurred on erection and up gradation; repairs and maintenance of electricity network; customer service; and general administration etc.

“APDCL is realizing Fixed Charge from all category of consumers on cost involvement of supply of Power on the basis of connected load (RS-KW/ per month) but whereas in actual APDCL is realizing access amount in Fixed Charge not from connected load but on contracted demand which is much higher side for HT Small Industries up to range of 50 KVA,” NESSIA said in a press release.

The activity of those Industries is limited to day hours between 8 am to 5 pm and thereby they utilize power from ASEB for just 8 hours in a day.   Further, besides the peak load hour’s restriction, holiday, weekly rest and other factors, etc, HT small sector industries up to 50 KVA load utilize power for hardly 22 days in a month in 8 hour activities.

“Therefore APDCL is realizing revenue in the name of Fixed Charge without supplying any power and demanded removal of Fixed Charge,” NESSIA said.

However, NESSIA hailed the decision of the new chairman of AERC for not allowing a hike in Fixed Charges to all categories of consumers.

Furthermore, NESSIA has demanded the reconsideration of Rs 0.22 / KW hour hike in power tariff particularly to HT small industries up to 50 KVA in comparison to hike Rs 0.12 / KW hour for HT industries up to 150 KVA.

“This should be reduced at least to Rs 0.10 / KW hour for HT small industries as most of the industries in the state belongs to HT small industries up to 50 KVA connection and they are the worst sufferer in all respect,” NESSIA said. (KNN/SD)

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