Ludhiana, May 29 (KNN) The Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations (FOPSIA) has slammed the Punjab government over the new tariff orders issued by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) for the year 2021-22.

PSERC on Friday, reduced the power tariff for domestic consumers with monthly consumption of less than 300 units by up to 20 per cent. According to the order, the per unit tariff for domestic consumers with load up to 2kW and consumption slabs of 0 to 100 units and 101 to 300 units has been reduced by Rs 1 and 50 paise, respectively.

For domestic consumers having a load between 2kW and 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.

The new tariff will be applicable from June 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, with the previous year’s tariff being effective up to May 31, 2021.

''This shall result in financial relief to the tune of Rs 682 crore to these consumers,'' the order read.

However, angered over the order, FOPSIA president, Badish Jindal has alleged that to provide relief to domestic consumers, the PSERC has passed on the burden on other segments of consumers.

''Once again, the political face of the Punjab State Regulatory Commission has been exposed. The commission has tried to give relief to the lower sections by putting the burden on other sections including residential and industry,'' he added.

He further stated that the fixed charges of residential connections above 7 kilowatts have increased to around 25 per cent and similarly, the PSERC has increased the consumption charges for the residential connections above 7Kw.

''The industrial connections above 100 KW are also penalised by increasing both the fixed and consumption charges,'' he said.

The small and medium industrial consumers and Non-Residential Supply NRS consumers have not been burdened with any increase. 

The Tariff for Agricultural power (AP) category has been increased marginally by 9 paisa. With this the cross-subsidy of AP category has been reduced from (-) 14.41 per cent to (-) 12.05 per cent.

The increase in tariff for large industrial consumers (General and PIU) has been kept at less than 2 per cent.