Mysuru: The proposed hike in power tariff by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) is taking a beating with consumers urging the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to reject the appeal filed by the power corporation.
At a public hearing organised by the KERC at the Court Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Thursday, representatives of various bodies including Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mysore Industries Association, Hebbal Industrial Manufacturers’ Association demanded the dismissal of the CESC’s petition that seeks a hike of Rs 1.48 per unit across categories. CESC, citing operational and backlog losses, along with other electricity supply companies in Karnataka sought Rs 1.48 increase per unit across slabs.
KERC conducted the public hearing under its Chairman M K Shankaralinge Gowda and assisted by members D B Manivel Raju and H D Arun Kumar. The decision on whether to hike the tariff r not will be taken after gathering public opinion from across Karnataka.
Managing Director of CESC Kiran, during his power point presentation projected a loss of Rs. 962.93 Crore in 2016. Losses incurred out of regulatory assets, backlog loses and overall shortage is hampering the function of CESC, he said. He also mentioned that about 50 percent of the power purchased by CESC was hydel-based and there was an acute shortage in its supply owing to the failure of monsoon and hence there was a need for hike in tariff, he added.
Sudhakar S Shetty, Vice-President of Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI); Ravindra Prabhu, Vice-President of KIADB Hebbal Industrial Area Manufacturers’ Association and Suresh Kumar Jain, Secretary of Mysore Industries Association, objected to the proposed tariff hike.
