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Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 18

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has permitted the State Electricity Board (KSEB) to levy a fuel surcharge of 50 paise per unit from consumers with effect from August 20.

The surcharge will not be applicable to those domestic consumers whose monthly power consumption is up to 80 units, according to a statement from KSERC.

It is pointed out that KSEB has been purchasing costly thermal power from outside to overcome the severe energy shortage in the State following deficient monsoon rains.

The board had submitted a petition to KSERC asking for permission to increase tariff by 50 paise to Rs 2 per unit to recover a part of the additional cost from consumers.

The commission had called upon consumers to cut down consumption to the extent possible, the response to which was rather lukewarm.

It is in this context that the commission has decided to permit the board to recover a part of the increase in the prices of fuels like naphtha and LSHS from the consumers, says the statement.

The commission will take a decision on whether to make any changes in the surcharge after reviewing the power situation in the State through public hearings on or before November 1.

Referring to the decision by KSERC to allow the State Electricity Board to impose a fuel surcharge on consumers, the State Industries Minister, Mr Elamalam Kareem, said that it would have a direct bearing on the industries sector.

He noted that the surcharge would be an additional burden on the industries, which were already reeling under a 25 per cent power-cut. The real impact of the surcharge had to be studied, he added.

More Stories on : Taxation | Power | Kerala

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