No electricity tariff hike in Haryana

Haryana discoms Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) have not proposed any tariff hike in the state for the 2014-15 financial year, an official said Monday.The present tariff has been revised downward by reviving the old telescopic system of tariff for the domestic sector, giving a benefit of about Rs.200 per bi-monthly bill.

The state's Principal Secretary (Power) Devender Singh, who is also the chairman of Haryana Power Utilitmade ies, the announcement at a press conference here Monday.

Managing Director of DHBVN and UHBVN Anurag Agarwal was also present.

Devender Singh said there was a 13% tariff hike in Haryana vide HERC's order dated March 31, 2013, and no hike has been effected since then. The tariff in Haryana for domestic consumers is a minimum of Rs.2.98 per unit, and a maximum Rs.5.98.

Now, consumers recording consumption of nil to 40 units per month in their meters will be charged a tariff of Rs 2.98 per unit. The tariff for 41 to 100 units per month consumption will be Rs.4.75 per unit.

On consumption of units from 101 to 250, the tariff will be Rs.4.90 per unit.

For units between 251 to 500, the tariff will be Rs.5.60 per unit. And, for units from 501 to 800 per month, the tariff will be Rs.5.98 per unit.

For monthly consumption above 800 units, the consumers will have to pay at the rate of 5.98 per unit for the entire consumption.

The distribution losses in Haryana are 24.92%, compared to 14.90% in Delhi, 15.08 in Punjab, 18.18 in Rajasthan, 21.81% in Uttar Pradesh and 18.09 in Gujarat.

The average purchase cost in Haryana is Rs.3.95 per unit compared to Rs.3.67 in Punjab, Rs.3.92 in Delhi, Rs.3.81 in Rajasthan and Rs.3.64 in Gujarat.

Likewise, the cost of supply in Haryana is Rs.6.12 per unit compared to Rs.5.33 in Punjab, Rs.6.40 in Delhi, Rs.5.97 in Rajasthan, Rs.5.54 in Uttar Pradesh and Rs.5.08 in Gujarat.

The maximum level of tariff in Haryana for domestic consumers is Rs.5.98 per unit compared to Rs.6.42 per unit in Punjab, Rs.6.16 per unit in Delhi, Rs.5.88 per unit in Uttar Pradesh and Rs.7.00 per unit in Rajasthan.

According to the audit report, there is high accumulation of the defaulting amount, which requires much more effort to bridge. AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses also need to be curbed.

This year, electricity consumption in the state has been 20% higher than last year. There has also been timely and good rain in the state this year, so the higher consumption this year is despite lower dependence on tube wells.