Power tariff likely to be hiked in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Power tariff is likely to be hiked further in the State as the Discoms have filed a petition before the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) proposing to increase the electricity tariff for the year 2021-22.

The power tariff is expected to rise by Rs 1.50 per unit. The proposed hike may put additional burden on the electricity consumers.

Six months ago, the OERC had hiked the power tariff by 20 paise to Rs 5.25 per unit.

With the proposal gets approved by the State Government, the consumers have to pay Rs 6.75 per unit towards electricity bill every month.

However, the Odisha Consumers’ Association opposed the possible hike in power tariff.

“If the State Government receives the petition of Discoms proposing hike in power tariff, we will hit the streets,” warned Odisha Electricity Consumers’ Association President Ramesh Satpathy.

Briefing a presser yesterday, the Association alleged that the State Government is exploiting the consumers by collecting crores of revenue from the Energy Department whereas that other state governments have been providing power services at affordable prices in their states.

The State Government is getting an average of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore a year as the electricity duty from the Energy Department, Satpathy said.