Domestic Power Tariff in Bihar to be increased by 2.5% from April 1

Patna: Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission has raised the Power Tariffs in the state for both rural and urban consumers. The revised tariffs would be applicable from April 1st this year.

Power Supply in Bihar

The Power tarrif has been increased by 2.5%

In a Press Conference yesterday, BERC Chairman U N Panjiar apprised about the details of revision. The tariff has been hiked by 2.5%, which implies a 15p per unit increase for urban consumers. For rural metered consumers, this would increase by 10p per unit.

For unmetered consumers, the monthly tariff has been increased by Rs. 10 to Rs. 170 per month. For those falling under Kutir Jyoti scheme, the rates have been increased by Rs. 5 to Rs. 60 per month.

Bihar State Power Holding Company, the flagship company of Bihar Government entrusted for Power generation, transmission and distribution had been reportedly running into losses, which lead to this increase. It is estimated that around this increase will fill the gap by Rs. 113 Crores.

Below are some other changes announced by BERC.

No increase in Fixed Charge / Demand Charge has been made in metered category of consumers.

In pursuance of its earlier tariff order for FY 2012-13 and 2014-15, abolishing Monthly Minimum Charges (MMC) for HT consumers and urban domestic consumers (DS-II), the Commission now has abolished the provision of MMC charges NDS-I categories of consumers.

The limitation of capacity of transformer upto 150% by the HT consumer has been withdrawn.

The domestic consumer has been exempted from levy of power factor surcharge.

The existing flat rate of 5% of power factor surcharge to the LT consumers has been withdrawn. The flat rate of 5% for other LT consumers has been rationalized and it shall be chargeable on prorata basis like HT consumers.

Time of Day (TOD) tariff which was mandatory for a contract demand of 200 KVA and above to HT consumers has now been made mandatory to all HT consumers.

Consumer at his option, has been allowed to pay the meter charges in one lump sum, if he so opts, to avoid monthly meter rent.

Existing rate of Miscellaneous Charges has not been increased. (9) Consumers with contract demand of 50 KVA and above have also permitted to avail supply in HTS-I category (11KV). This will enable in reducing line losses to some extent.

No increase in the tariff of Pvt. Agriculture Consumers has been done.