Last Updated on May 9, 2022 at 1:06 pm
The power tariff in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be hiked as Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has proposed a hike. JPDCL has put forward 17.74% hike in the power tariff for the current financial year whereas KPDCL has suggested 12.46% hike.
Once the suggestions and objections are received for the power tariff petition which has been put to public domain, final decision will be taken on proposed tariff hike.
As per reports, JPDCL informed that during the year 2019-20, the cumulative revenue gap was up to Rs 955.92 crore while as during the financial year 2020-21, the same increased to Rs 3684.22 crore. During the year 2021-22, cumulative revenue gap increased to Rs 6062.33 crore and at the existing tariff the revenue gap will further rise to Rs 8368.53 crore during the current financial year (2022-23).
As per the existing tariff, the JPDCL charges Rs 1.69 per unit up to 100 units per month, Rs 2.20 per unit for 101 to 200 units per month, Rs 3.30 per unit for 201 to 400 units per month and Rs 3.52 per unit for more than 400 units per month. However, it has now proposed Rs 2 per unit up to 200 units per month, Rs 4 per unit for 201-400 units per month and Rs 5 per unit for more than 400 units per month. Moreover, it has proposed hike from Rs 5.50 to Rs 15 as fixed charges per kilowatt.
For unmetered connections, JPDCL suggested an increase from Rs 99 to Rs 200 per month for power consumption up to ¼ KW; from 325 to Rs 400 for above ¼ KW up to ½ KW per month; from Rs 490 to Rs 600 for above ½ KW up to ¾ KW per month and from Rs 650 to Rs 800 for above ¾ KW up to 1 KW. As far as non-domestic/commercial consumers are concerned, the JPDCL is presently charging Rs 2.81 per unit up to 100 units per month and Rs 2.97 per unit for 101 to 200 units per month. Now, it has proposed Rs 3.50 per unit up to 200 units per month.
Against Rs 4.29 per unit for 201 to 300 units per month and Rs 4.62 per unit for units more than 300 per months, the JPDCL has proposed Rs 5 per unit for units between 201 to 500 per month and Rs 5.10 per unit for more than 500 units per month, as per Daily Excelsior.
As per the petition, KPDCL mentioned that in the year 2019-20, the cumulative revenue gap was Rs 1604.95 crore which increased to Rs 5890.76 crore in the year 2020-21. During the year 2021-22 the gap increased to Rs 9898.63 crore and at the existing tariff the cumulative revenue gap will increase to Rs 13145 crore during the current financial year (2022-23).
KPDCL has kept the proposed tariff for metered and unmetered categories of consumers as well as non-domestic and commercial consumers in line with the JPDCL.
