Ranchi: The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Authority on Friday gave a major relief to consumers as it decided not to hike the power tariff rates in the state.
Further providing help to the consumers it was decided that the collection of meter rent would be stopped, reduction in surcharge rate for delay payment, one percent relaxation if payment is made via digital mode. Further rate of commercial electricity has been reduced while those of the household users will remain unchanged.
To encourage the consumers to pay their bills on time the authority said that if money would be paid before the stipulated date via digital mode of payment than an overall two percent rebate would be given on power bills.
Earlier the Jharkhand Power Distribution Corporation in its petition before the authority had suggested that power tariffs should be hiked in different categories from 35 to 40 percent while it had also suggested increasing the monthly fixed charge. In the open forum, the people had opposed an increase in power tariffs.
Though it was suspected that power tariffs in the state would at least increase by 10 percent the officials decided against it. At present, for household consumers, the power is provided at Rs 6.25 per unit over which the government gives a subsidy of Rs 2.75 per unit which means the consumers ultimately pay Rs 3.50 per unit for power meant for domestic use.