Revenue gap much more in Valley as compared to Jammu
*Jt Regulatory Commission to take decision by month end
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 8: Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has proposed 17.74% hike in the power tariff for the current financial year while as Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has filed petition for 12.46% hike. This is notwithstanding the fact that cumulative revenue gap in Kashmir valley is much more as compared to Jammu province.
As per the petitions filed before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories, the copies of which are available with EXCELSIOR, the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has mentioned that in the year 2019-20, the cumulative revenue gap was to the tune of Rs 955.92 crore while as during the financial year 2020-21, the same increased to Rs 3684.22 crore.
Again the cumulative revenue gap increased to Rs 6062.33 crore during the financial year 2021-22 and at the existing tariff the revenue gap will further rise to Rs 8368.53 crore during the current financial year (2022-23).
To recover the revenue gap to some extent, the JPDCL has proposed an average tariff hike of 17.74% with the mention that projected revenue billed for financial year 2022-23 at proposed tariff is Rs 2733.65 crore. “The proposed tariff would lead to increase in revenue by Rs 411.90 crore”, the JPDCL has further mentioned in the petition.
As per the existing tariff, the JPDCL charges Rs 1.69 per unit up to 100 units per month, Rs 2.20 per unit for 101 to 200 units per month, Rs 3.30 per unit for 201 to 400 units per month and Rs 3.52 per unit for more than 400 units per month. However, it has now proposed Rs 2 per unit up to 200 units per month, Rs 4 per unit for 201-400 units per month and Rs 5 per unit for more than 400 units per month. Moreover, it has proposed hike from Rs 5.50 to Rs 15 as fixed charges per kilowatt.
As far as unmetered connections are concerned, the JPDCL has proposed increase from Rs 99 to Rs 200 per month for power consumption up to ¼ KW; from 325 to Rs 400 for above ¼ KW up to ½ KW per month; from Rs 490 to Rs 600 for above ½ KW up to ¾ KW per month and from Rs 650 to Rs 800 for above ¾ KW up to 1 KW.
As far as non-domestic/commercial consumers are concerned, the JPDCL is presently charging Rs 2.81 per unit up to 100 units per month and Rs 2.97 per unit for 101 to 200 units per month. Now, it has proposed Rs 3.50 per unit up to 200 units per month.
Against Rs 4.29 per unit for 201 to 300 units per month and Rs 4.62 per unit for units more than 300 per months, the JPDCL has proposed Rs 5 per unit for units between 201 to 500 per month and Rs 5.10 per unit for more than 500 units per month.
As per the petition, the KPDCL has mentioned that in the year 2019-20, the cumulative revenue gap was to the tune of Rs 1604.95 crore while as the same increased to Rs 5890.76 crore in the year 2020-21. Similarly, the gap further increased to Rs 9898.63 crore during the financial year 2021-22 and at the existing tariff the cumulative revenue gap will increase to Rs 13145 crore during the current financial year (2022-23).
On these grounds, the KPDCL has proposed an average tariff hike of Rs 12.46% with the mention that projected revenue billed for 2022-23 financial year at the proposed tariff is Rs 2199.20 crore. “The proposed tariff would lead to increase in revenue by Rs 243.60 crore”, the petition said.
However, the KPDCL has kept the proposed tariff for metered and unmetered categories of consumers as well as non-domestic and commercial consumers in line with the JPDCL.
Both the power tariff petitions have been put in the public domain for inviting objections and suggestions and the entire exercise will be completed by the end of this month and thereafter the Commission will take a final decision on the proposed tariff hike.
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