Bengaluru, Feb 26 (KNN) There should be a separate electricity tariff for micro and small scale industries for consumption of 40HP and below or 2000 units, industry body Kassia suggested while filing its objections before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) at the public hearing held today.

Small scale industries are overburdened with frequent tariff increase and poor quality of power which was adversely affecting their ability to compete in a global market, said K.S. Mallappa Gowda, Chairman, Sub-Committee, Energy, Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA).

Load shedding is killing the MSME sector, he said, pointing out that processing industries like foundry, injection moulding, CNC machines require quality power and even a small interruption leads to rejection.

While there was lot of scope in MSME sector for rooftop solar installation it remained untapped due to lack of awareness and inadequate handholding by the state government.

At the hearing for the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) KASSIA represented that industries that are ready to start or are on the verge of expanding their enterprise suffer due to no station augmentation or strengthening of lines. Delay in power supply and load shedding had led to a decline in power consumption by industries.

Staring at a proposed hike of Rs. 1.02 per unit of electricity, different classes of consumers aired their opinions at the public hearing. (KNN Bureau)