Hike in power tariff opposed by consumers

 

Consumers strongly opposed the increase in power tariff at the Public hearing meeting held in city on Tuesday. Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation, Mysore had sought a hike of 66 paise per unit.  Mysore, Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajnagar, Kodagu comes under CESC.

Nearing about 25 consumers like Industrialist, Businessmen, farmers, residents expressed their grievances strongly opposing the hike at the meeting held under the chairmanship of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Authority Chairman MR Srinivas Murthy, members DB Manivel Raju and HP Arun Kumar. 

 

Prior to this, presenting a power point presentation CESC Managing Director D Kiran justified his stand for hike in tariff price. “CESC is facing a loss of Rs 190 crore, as it is spending Rs 5.03 per unit, against Rs 4.86 permitted. To bear the loss, increasing the tariff by 66 paisa is needed (except Bhagya Jyothi, Kuteera Jyothi and 10 HP Irrigation Pumpset).  

K Ravindranath of Mysore Chamber of Commerce Industry said: “Hike in fair is unscientific. The officials have spent Rs 64 crore for failure in transformers. This shows the efficiency in maintenance. 1/3 of the revenue can be saved by placing good transformers. Safety management is beyond the control and unchecked.  

Manjunath and Satish from Karnataka Small Scale Industries 

Association expressing difficulties to sustain the power hike, observed that the tariff in State is nearly 30 per cent hike compare to Maharastra and Rajasthan. With this, they are suffering to compete with neighbouring states. 

RTI Activist Savitha Ranganath questioned the CESC officials why cant they supply power in three-phase in State, on the lines of Gujarat. 

Condemning the frequent power cut, disparity in bill, animal and human death caused due to electrocution, she said no safety measures and maintenance is being taken by CESC to prevent animal and human death. She asked to release white paper about the expenditure of CESC and increase the subsidy on solar power. 

Hassan Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Anand Rao requested the commission to change their category from commercial to industry. While, AC Subbaiah Coffee grower asked to consider them as farmers and supply free power. He further alleged that the officials are clueless about the number of streets lights and meters being fixed in their region. 

Theeratha Mallesh, General Secretary, Karnataka Growers Federation asked to fix minimum amount per unit, and there is no need of supplying the power freely. Further questioning the discrimination between coffee and tea planters, he asked to supply free power for 10 HP irrigation or joint them under LH4 category. 

Ravindranath Resident of Kollegal asked the commission to supply 24x7 power first and later think of increasing the tariff. He further alleged that low quality insulators have been placed for the beneficiaries of 'Nirantara Jyothi', with this the villagers are forced to spent with power cuts for days together.  

Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited Assistant Executive Engineer T. Bhaskar asked to reduce the tariff for farmers for about 50 per cent to promote farmers. An ISCKON employee asked to gave concession in the power tariff for temples, for which the Commission asked the ISKCON to place separate meters.  

Apart this, a plethora of complaints was heard by consumers in connection with irregular power supply, discrimination in tariff bill, regularisation of unauthorised meters and much more. While some of them said that power point presentation by CESC MD lack accuracy and asked to reduce losses occurred by transmission, distribution and supply power round the clock and asked to place the high tension wire in high level.