*Revised rates effective from Oct 1
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 13: The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh has accorded nod to 17.29 % increase in the `average power tariff ‘ in the Jammu and Kashmir, projecting revised revenue target of Rs 4116.39 crore in the Union Territory.
The new power tariff which has been revised after 2016-17, will be effective from October Ist, 2022 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. For various categories right from BPL to the domestic, commercial and heavy Industry, different revised rates have been approved by the Commission.
An order issued by the Commission here stated that the new power tariff has been designed in such a way so as to ensure minimum inconvenience to the citizens, while at the same time protecting the interests of the domestic, commercial, agricultural and Industrial sectors. The Commission decided to provide two tariff structures which is full cost tariff without considering the grant-in-aid from the Government to the JPDCL/ KPDCL to tune of Rs 2116.14 crores and subsidized tariff after factoring in the grant-in- aid.
With the existing tariff, the gap was worked out to the tune of Rs 2703.09 crore and with the grant-in-aid support the gap has been reduced to Rs 606.95 crores through tariff revision. The revenue target after tariff revision has therefore, been projected as Rs 4116.39 crores by the Commission.
An official spokesman said that average overall nominal increase over the previous tariff last revised in 2016-17 is hardly 8% for some segments, whereas the inflation rate in the corresponding period is 24% (the CPI Combined: All India General Index (All Groups) has risen from 131.1 in April 2017 to 162.5 in July 2022), thus it being safe to say that there is an effective decrease in tariff by 16% (adjusted for inflation). The new revised power tariff in J&K is much lower as compared to Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, the spokesman added.
According to the order, “the rates for Below Poverty Line consumers have been kept unchanged at Rs 1.25 for upto 30 units per month while as for domestic category consumers, for upto 200 units per month, the rate will be Rs 2 per unit, almost unchanged from before, for 200 to 400 units per month, the rate will be Rs 3.50 per unit, an increase of 6% in 5 years and for more than 400 units per month, the rate will be Rs 3.80 per unit, an increase of 8% in 5 years”.
“The corresponding rates for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are Rs 5.95, 6.25, 7.30, 7 and 8 per unit respectively”, it the order said.
The order further reads that the fixed charges shall be marginally increased from Rs 5.50 per KW per month to Rs 8, the charges for flat metering shall be Rs 175 for the first quarter KW, then an increase of Rs 200 for every quarter KW till a load of 2 KW, beyond which the charges will be Rs 500 for every quarter KW.
In the Commercial category, for single phase connections, for upto 200 units per month, the rate will be Rs 3.10 per unit, increase of 7% in 5 years, for single phase connections, for 200 to 500 units per month, the rate will be Rs 4.70 per unit, increase of 9% in 5 years and for Single Phase connections for more than 500 units per month, and for three phase connections at any usage, the rate will be Rs 5.10 per unit. The corresponding rates for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are in the range of Rs 5.50 to 9 per unit. It adds that the fixed charges shall be marginally increased from Rs 44 per kW per month to Rs 60 for single phase connections, from Rs 104.50 per KW per month to Rs 130 for three phase connections and the charges for flat metering shall be Rs 500 for every quarter KW.
In the Agricultural sector, the charges have been rationalised at Rs 0.80 per unit for connections upto 10 HP, Rs 1.00 per unit for connections from 10 to 20 HP and Rs 5.25 per unit for larger connections beyond 20 HP. The fixed charges have been rationalised at Rs 30 per HP per month for all connections. The rate structure has only been simplified as the increase in agriculture category has been minimal.
In the LT Industry category, applicable to connections below 100 kW, the charges have been rationalised to Rs 3.65 per KVAH, and fixed charge of Rs 60 per KVA, an overall increase of about 11 % in 5 years. There will be a special category called LTIS-II for connections less than 15 HP given to certain small industries eligible for concession as per Government notification and for this category, the fixed charges will be Rs 30 per KVA per month.
The HT Industry category, the charges will be Rs 3.60, Rs 3.50 and Rs 3.44 per KVAh for 11 kV, 33kV and 66 kV connections respectively and the fixed charges will be Rs 175 per kVA per month for all connections. The increase is about 22 % in 5 years, less than the inflation increase of 24% and still significantly less than any other state in the country with an aim to incentivise industrial investments.
In the HT Power Intensive Industry category, the charges will be Rs 4.35, Rs 4.30 and Rs 4.23 per KVAh for 11 kV, 33 KV and 66 KV connections respectively and the fixed charges will be Rs 225 per kVA per month for all connections and the increase is about 21% in 5 years.
In the Bulk consumer category, the charges will be Rs 4.90 and Rs 4.85 per KVAh for 11 KV and 33 KV connections respectively. The fixed charges will be Rs 225 per KVA per month for all connections and the increase is about 23% in 5 years.
For supply to the Government sector establishments, the rates will be Rs 6.90 per KVAh and the fixed charge of Rs 40 per KVA per month for all central and State Government departments. The rates will be Rs 7.50 per unit and the fixed charge of Rs 60 per kW per month for pubic street lighting, or Rs 3500 per kW per month on flat rate. The rates will be Rs 7.50 per unit and the fixed charge of Rs 60 per kW per month for LT public water works. The rates will be Rs 7.10 and Rs 7.00 per kVAh for 11 kV and 33kV connections respectively and the fixed charge of Rs 250 per kVA per month for HT public water works. The average increase in these rates has been around 25%, at par with the rate of inflation over the past 5 years.
Pertinently, the average rate of power purchase for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir is Rs 4.54 per unit and the Aggregate Technical and Commercial Loss for the FY 2021-22 stands at 46 % for Jammu division and 60 % for Kashmir region against the prescribed ceiling of 20%. Infrastructural improvements, technological interventions such as smart metering and a revised yet simplified tariff schedule are keys to improving the financial health of the distribution companies. The department aims, with all necessary interventions, to bring the losses within the acceptable limits and to provide 24*7 electricity to all consumers by 2025.
The tariff has been revised with an aim of providing round the clock power supply to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as well reduce the massive losses. The JERC has also kept the tariff rates lower for Jammu and Kashmir than other State or UT across the country.
Notable to mention, that the rates for industrial categories vary from a minimum of Rs 4.70 to a maximum of Rs 7.75 per kVAh in the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. In order to ensure incentivize industrial development, the price of the highest rate slab of industrial supply has been kept less than the lowest rate slab in any neighboring state. The new tariff schedule is designed to minimize the burden on the end consumer while at the same time ensuring the financial health of the power distribution companies. It has been ensured that the tariff is competitive for industries, and the interests of the average farmer, small shop-keeper and an average household have been given the prime importance. The department is committed to modernise the billing and metering system, in order to maximize compliance, minimize power theft and to provide best service to the end consumer. The consumers are encouraged to shift from flat metering to normal metering, since it will be economical for the consumer as well as good for the robustness of the distribution system.
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