In what comes as a major relief to over 69 lakh consumers, Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has reduced domestic tariff by Rs 0.50 to Rs 0.25 per unit.
The rationalisation up to 50 kW (50 paise per unit and 25 paise per unit for consumption slabs of 0 to 100 units and 101 to 300 units respectively) would give relief of Rs 354.82 crore to the consumers.
Although PSERC did not roll out any relaxation for industries, there is no increase in power tariff for small traders or the MSME's. Large industries have been allowed to operate for 24 hours now. The units will now be allowed to operate at night on night tariff charges at Rs 4.83 per Kilovolt Ampere hour (KvAh). According to the government, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 30 crore a day during the lockdown.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said even as there was a heavy revenue deficit owing to COVID-19 crisis and lockdown, the government still tried to give whatever relief possible to the consumers. He said the state was hopeful of further rationalisation of the tariff.
“We had recommended even further reduction in tariff not only for the domestic consumers but also for industry. However, the PSERC was unable to accommodate the state’s request in view of the steep fall in revenue collection. The rationalisation has happened after years, and we are hopeful of better benefits. The commission’s decision to continue with the special night tariff with 50 per cent fixed charges and energy charge of Rs. 4.83/KvAh for large scale and medium scale industrial consumers using electricity exclusively during the hours of 10:00pm to 06:00am will go a long way in revival of industries. This would help the small units overcome some of the economic losses suffered due to the lockdown. The decision on continued billing at reduced energy charges for consumption in excess of threshold limit of the last two fiscals would boost use of surplus power by the industry, which would, in turn, help bring the beleaguered industry on track in the post-lockdown era,” said CM.
He further reiterated his government’s commitment to continue providing subsidised rates to industry and free power to the farmers, notwithstanding the revenue shortfall in the state exchequer in view of the lockdown. “The government will also continue to subsidise SC/BC and BPL domestic consumers with 200 free units per month,” he added.
