Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Welcomes PSERC Move to Trim Power Tariff

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has hailed the decision taken by the nodal agency Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to slash domestic tariff despite a drop in revenue on the back of coronavirus lockdown.

The Minister also hoped that the rates could be further rationalised in the interest of the people.

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Further, Punjab CM said that his government had recommended even more reduction in tariff for domestic as well as industrial consumers, however, the PSERC had been unable to accommodate the request in view of the sharp decline in revenue.

Due to lockdown, the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) had suffered a loss of Rs 30 crore per day in April, he said quoted IANS.

The Chief Minister also pointing out that the domestic power tariff rationalisation had been done after many years. Even with the current reduction in 50 paise per unit for load up to 50 KW and 25 paise per unit for 0-100 unit and 101-300 unit slabs would give Rs 354.82 crore relief to 69 lakh domestic consumers.

As per the media reports, he also emphasized that the poor, worst-hit by the pandemic, would benefit most from power tariff cut.

Thus, regulatory body PSERC has not increased the tariff for small shopkeepers, who were badly affected by the shutdown.

Though the industry stakeholders demanded to lower fixed charges which could not be met, Amarinder Singh expressed satisfaction that there was no increase either for any category of industrial consumers.

Notably, the Members of the Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers Association (JNSSMA) along with the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations (FICO) demanded that the PSPCL should waive fixed charges in electricity bills for at least a year.

However, Amarinder Singh also welcomed the PSERC decision to continue with the special night tariff with 50 per cent fixed charges and energy charge of Rs 4.83/kVAh for industrial consumers using electricity exclusively during 10 p.m. to 6 a.m, and to extend it to small power industrial category consumers, added the media reports.

Singh also believed that the move will help the small units overcome some of the economic losses suffered due to the lockdown.

Recently, we had reported that The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has issued a tender, inviting bids from eligible vendors and firms for the work of designing and commissioning of 19,000 solar street lights in the state under the MNRE off-grid and decentralised solar PV applications scheme.