Kerala
KSEB imposes fuel surcharge

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, April 5

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has ordered that a fuel surcharge of 26 paise be imposed per unit on all consumers for a six-month period starting April 1.

This is in response to a plea by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) seeking intervention to help it make good the Rs 190-crore loss sustained in the purchase of additional thermal power during the last year.

It had requested concurrence for a series of measures that included power cuts and load-shedding, both of which found no favour with the SERC.

RESTRCTS USAGE

The SERC has also ordered restrictions on the use of power to the tune of 10 per cent (against 25 per cent requisitioned) for all users except domestic, street lighting and agriculture. Accordingly, 90 per cent of the base average consumption shall be fixed as quota.

The consumption over quota shall be charged at the rate of Rs 7.25/kWh, according to the order issued by Mr M. P. Aiyyappan and Mr C. Abdulla, members of the SERC. The order has been made effective from April 1.

Restrictions shall also be applicable to domestic consumers having consumption over 300 units per month, which shall also be charged at Rs 7.25/kWh, the order said.

KSEB shall indicate the quota, excess consumption and rate charged for excess consumption separately in the bills issued to the consumers.

The Commission will review the power position and rate for additional consumption on May 5 and take a suitable decision.