Bengaluru: The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) announced a window of 30 days for consumers to file objections to last-minute changes by the power utility. With this, the public hearing on the Rs 1.48 tariff hike sought by the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) ended with a twist on Monday.
The KERC holds public hearings every year on the proposed tariff hike by electricity supply companies (ESCOMS) before pronouncing its order by the end of the financial year. However, this year, consumers accused Bescom of amending the tariff petition filed in December last year and adding increased demand charges along with making other changes and announcing them only on February 17, just three days before the hearing on Monday.
“During the hearing on Monday, some stakeholders opposed the application for the proposed amendments to the BESCOM’s tariff petition mainly on the ground that sufficient time was not available for filing detailed objections,” a statement by the KERC said.