Domestic power consumers in Kerala will now be charged double the per unit tariff if consumption was to exceed a newly prescribed 300 units. 

The State electricity regulator has allowed Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to charge a hefty Rs 15 per unit for every unit consumed above this limit.

While issuing its order, Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission noted “unprecedented failure of two monsoons” aggravating the situation during the current water year.

The prevailing tariff for domestic consumers in the 300 to 500 unit slab is Rs 7.50 per unit. On crossing the 300 unit consumption limit, this will go up to Rs 15.

The KSEB had sought permission to levy Rs 11 per unit for those exceeding the 200-unit limit per month, but the commission fixed it at 300 units per month.

But the latter sought to make this up by allowing the utility to charge much higher than it had originally sought permission for.

About 96,000 households that got monthly consumption of beyond 300 units are expected to be impacted in this manner.

But domestic consumers have been exempted from a power cut. The cyclical load-shedding will continue.

The new tariff will come into force from December 15 and will be valid until May 31, 2013, during which period the situation would be reviewed on a monthly basis. The regulator has decided to impose 25 per cent power cut for all industrial units which are not within the ambit of the cyclical load-shedding concurrently.

This would be 20 per cent power cut for industrial units that undergo load-shedding.

For high-tension and extra high-tension connections, consumption beyond the contracted demand will invite a penalty of three-times above the normal. 

The commission clarified that there shall be restrictions on usage of power by all categories of consumers, save for normal exemptions for public lighting and agriculture.

vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

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