BEST proposes hike in power tariff

Although the existing tariff has been proposed for the BPL consumers,the consumers in the various low tension and high tension categories have been proposed higher fixed and variable charges.

A 158.69 per cent hike in the variable charges like energy charge,standby charge and expensive power charge has been suggested for the consumers using up to 100 units in the LT-I category,while it is 114.78 per cent and 61.42 per cent for consumers using 101 to 300 units and 301 to 500 units respectively.

Consumers using over 500 units have been proposed a 44.08 per cent rise in the variable charges.

The BEST expects to sell 4257.11 million units (MUs) of power in 2009-10 as projected,which is 4.20 per cent higher than the previous year. In the current (2008-09) year,the MERC had approved the sale of power at 4363.37 MUs,but the revised estimates suggest it would be at a lower 4085.52 MUs. The distribution loss has been pegged at 10.5 per cent,the same as in 2008-09,and the energy requirement will be 4999 MUs in 2009-10 as against 4797.5 MUs estimated in 2008-09.

The power requirement was 4605.95 MUs in 2007-08. The collection efficiency was 97 per cent in 2007-08 and is projected at the same level in 2009-10. A public hearing in this regard will be conducted on March 25 at the World Trade Centre at Cuffe Parade in Mumbai.