Power Corp proposes fixed charges on load
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 28
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has proposed two-part tariff structure. Sources said in the annual revenue requirement (ARR) for 2013-14 submitted by PSPCL to the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), the former has proposed to levy fixed charges on the sanctioned load and variable charges on the power consumed.

The proposal, if approved by the PSERC, will lead to additional burden on power consumers. The agricultural pumpset consumers are however exempted.

PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri said the corporation had been charging tariff with the provision of minimum charges depending on fixed load. “Now, we want that fixed charges be imposed on per kilowatt (KW) load and variable charges on the power consumed,” he said.

He claimed that if the proposal was accepted, the bills of consumers using power in bulk would go down. The sources said the aim of this proposal was to recover the amount spent by the corporation on upgrading infrastructure.

Under the present system, if the power consumed by any household is nil or too less, minimal charges are levied. As per the proposal, fixed charges of Rs 15 per KW would be levied up to 15 KW and more thereafter.

The bill will be the sum of fixed load charges and charges for the units consumed.

Taxing consumers

* Under the present system, if the power consumed by any household is nil or too less, minimal charges are levied

* As per the proposal, fixed charges of Rs 15 per KW would be levied up to 15 KW and more thereafter

* The bill will be the sum of fixed load charges and charges for the units consumed