Vijayawada: No hike on electricity charges this year

VIJAYAWADA: To the relief of power consumers in the state, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has not hiked the electricity charges for 2018-19. The same tariff that was charged in the financial year 2017-18 will be continued along with some additional concessions to certain categories of consumers. APERC Chairman G Bhavani Prasad issued the retail supply tariff order for 2018-19 on Tuesday.

Agriculturists will continue to be eligible for free supply of power. The state government has approved a sanction of Rs 6030.17 crore as subsidy for both the discoms under Section 65 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for the financial year 2018-19. The subsidy was enhanced from '3700 cr. for the financial year 2017-18 to Rs 6030.17 crore for the financial year 2018-19.

The subsidy would be extended to nursery farmers as well. The state government took a policy decision to treat nursery farmers on par with agricultural farmers and would therefore be included in the free supply of power category and have fully subsidised their consumption charges. The state government also waived all the pending dues due towards power supply by the nurseries. The Commission gave effect to the said policy and the nursery farmers without any reference to their connected load will now get free supply of power. The Commission gave various other directions to the distribution licensees and necessary advices to the state government on various relevant issues raised by the individual and representative consumers and stakeholders orally and in writing during the public hearings or otherwise. Redressal of public grievances and improvement in performance of the power sector are an ongoing process for the Commission.

The Commission hopes that the 1,71,68,000 electricity consumers in the State of Andhra Pradesh will be happier and satisfied with the present Tariff Order than in the earlier years. “The Commission gave various other directions to the distribution licensees and necessary advice to the State Government on various relevant issues raised by the individual and representative consumers and stakeholders orally and in writing during the public hearings or otherwise. Redressal of public grievances and improvement in performance of the power sector are an ongoing process for the Commission. The Commission hopes and trusts that the 1,71,68,000 electricity consumers in the state will be happier and satisfied with the present Tariff Order than in the earlier years,” said Bhavani Prasad.