CHANDIGARH: All categories of consumers will have to pay more as Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has increased the power tariff for Punjab. PSERC has increased both fixed and variable charges for all the categories of the consumers. The Commission has decided to make the new tariff applicable from 16th May, 2023 up to 31st March 2024.
For domestic consumers fixed charges have been increased by Rs.15/KW and variable charges have been increased by 70 paise per unit for consumption upto 100 units, for next 200 units increase will be 80 paise per unit and beyond 300 units increase will be 45 paise per unit.
For industrial consumers fixed charges have been increased by 20 to 30per KVA. For small power variable charges have been increased by 40 paise per unit, 30 paise per unit for medium supply and 45 paise per unit for large scale industry.
AS per PSERC , the Commission has determined the additional revenue requirement of Rs. 3584 crores resulting in an increase of 56 paise/unit over the average cost of supply of FY 2022-23. The net revenue to PSPCL from the announced tariff during FY 2023-24 is Rs. 41704 crores .The average cost of supply of electricity is Rs.7.04 per unit. Further to meet the growing demands on the PSPCL , the Commission has approved the Capital investment Plan of Rs. 6047crores. to upgrade distribution and transmission networks.
The agriculture tariff has been increased by 89 paise per unit .
The total subsidy payable by the Punjab government for the financial year is Rs18627.88 crores. This comprises of Rs 8809 crores for agriculture sector, Rs.5883 crores for giving free 300 units to domestic consumers, Rs. 1427 crores and RS. 2508 crores for industry, concessional tariff of Rs.2.50 per unit to domestic consumers with load up to 7KW,
The tariff increase for domestic consumers with consumption of 100 units has been increased by 20 per cent , and those with consumption of 300 units the increase would by above 15%.However the Punjab government gives free power up to 300 units for domestic consumers. Chief minister announced that the revised tariff would not impact the common man as the increase would be borne by the government,