The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) on Thursday while pronouncing its order said power tariff will not be hiked for the financial year 2023-24. Retail supply tariff for the upcoming fiscal has remained unrevised during the last two years.
However, the Commission has given several concessions to the electricity consumers. Tariff of cold storage has been reduced by Rs 1.60 per unit in high tension (HT) and low tension (LT) which were Rs 4.60 and Rs 4.70 per unit earlier. They will now pay Rs 3 per unit. OERC has withdrawn delayed payment surcharge (DPS) or penalty for consumers which was earlier one percent of the billed value for each month of delay.
The LT domestic and single phase general purpose (who use electricity for irrigation purposes) category of consumers will get four percent rebate over and above the normal rebate they get on the bill while paying it through digital mode. Earlier, they were receiving a three percent rebate. This rebate will be applicable on the current month bill, if paid in full, said the OERC order.
Priyabrata Patnaik, secretary and director of regulatory affairs, OERC, said rural consumers will get 10 paisa per unit rebate on their bill compared to urban consumers. “This time, we have initiated a new thing. For the development of the railway sector in Odisha, Railways have been given 25 paise per unit rebate for all the units consumed in addition to all other rebates,” he added.
The consumers of any category can get a Green Consumer Certification by power distribution companies (Discoms), if 100 percent of their power requirement is met from renewable sources by Discoms. Now the OERC has reduced the green certification premium from 50 paise per unit to 25 paise per unit. That means the consumer will pay an additional 25 paise per unit as premium over and above the normal rate of energy charges.
Patnaik said the power companies had sought a hike in annual revenue requirement (ARR), but the Commission has asked the companies to utilise the surplus revenue of the last year and kept the power tariff unchanged. “General consumers will benefit out of the adjustments,” he added.
Discoms give rebates to consumers for electricity use during off-peak hours. Earlier it was 12 midnight to 6am, but this year OERC has allowed off-peak hours from 2pm to 6pm along with 12 midnight to 6am. Now these consumers will get 20 paise per unit rebate for using energy during the off-peak hours.
Odisha power transmission corporation limited (OPTCL) will provide exemption of 20 paise per unit on transmission charges to captive/open access consumers on consumption of energy from renewable energy projects in the state.
The commission was conducting tariff hearings between February 13 and March 4.
