CESC Ltd, the power provider for Kolkata and its neighbourhood areas, has sought an 18 per cent tariff revision for the financial year 2014-15.
In a recent petition to the State regulator, CESC has asked for tariff of an average ₹7.58 a unit (kilowatt-hour), up from the current rate of ₹6.38 a unit. The petition also sought the regulator’s approval for a 3 per cent hike for each of the next two financial years.
“Major reasons for the increase in tariff proposed is unprecedented inflationary pressure and consequential cost increase, together with a steep increase in the price of fuel (both primary fuel coal and secondary fuel oil, partly recovered through monthly variable cost adjustments) and impact of cost of power purchase under long-term agreements,” CESC said in a statement.
Scholarship
Meanwhile, CESC on Friday announced a scholarship programme for students in graduation courses in West Bengal. The scholarship would be available to students who come from a family with an annual income of ₹ 2.5 lakh and have secured an average of 85 per cent marks in the Class XII examination. “Although we are starting with 30 ₹5000-a-month scholarships, more students will be added every year,” said the CESC Chairman. The scholarship, subject to the progress of the selected student, would be for three or four years, depending on the course duration.