3 per cent tariff hike for big power consumers; over 5 lakh hit in AP

Hyderabad: The AP Electricity Regulatory Commission on Friday increased the power tariff for about 15 lakh consumers to the extent of Rs 800 crore. In the domestic sector, those who consume more than 2,700 units per year pay 3 per cent more. There are about 5.83 lakh such consumers.

The tariff hike on an average is about 4.8 per cent, including fixed charges, customer charges and others, but the actual effect is 1.91 per cent. The new tariff will come into force from Saturday. As many as 15.47 lakh consumers, falling under seven hour-free power supply to farm category, remain unaffected.

APERC chairman G. Bhavani Prasad who announced the retail tariff order for 2017-18 said the total hike was about Rs 800 crore. He said out of the total 1.59 consumers, 1.44 crore (90.5%) were unaffected.

In the domestic sector for A category consumers (whose consumption will be below 900 units per year), the grouping limits of units was not changed from upto 900 units, and in B category above 900 units and upto 2,700 units, and for C category per month above 2,700 units.