Power Goes To Karnataka Government’s Head? Increases Tariff By 14 Paise Per Unit

Get ready to shell out 14 paise more from now on per unit of electricity if you are a BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited) consumer. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has informed all electricity supply companies to collect extra fuel adjustment charges (FAC).

If an average household consumes more than a hundred units, they will have to shell out Rs 14 extra that way. The tariff will come into effect from 31 December. This is the second time there is a revision in the tariff. Earlier in May, KERC increased the tariff by 25-38 paise, reported Deccan Herald.

An official of BESCOM was quoted as saying, “The increase in tariff is for October to December, after which the rates may or may not be revised, depending upon the fuel (coal) cost escalation. The escalation rates are different for different escoms. Earlier, from April to September, the FAC was not levied. From June to March, a 15-paise FAC was collected from consumers.”

Owing to scarcity in coal supply, the FAC charge keeps fluctuating. From the previous quarter, there is a burden of Rs 94 crore. Additionally, increasing rates of hydel and wind power has been cited as a reason.