Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080359630300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Public hearing on thermal surcharge

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal of the Kerala State Electricity Board to impose thermal surcharge on electricity consumers on August 4 at YMCA hall in Ernakulam.

The proposed surcharge on domestic consumers varies from 50 paise to Rs. 2, depending on consumption. There will be no surcharge on the consumers whose monthly consumption is upto 40 units. For monthly consumption from 41 to 80 units, the surcharge will be 50 paise per unit for the entire consumption.

Similarly, for consumption from 81 units to 300 units, the surcharge will be Re.1 per unit for the entire consumption. For consumption above 300 units, the surcharge will be Rs.2 per unit.

The State Electricity Board expects to collect an additional revenue of Rs.1,078.2 crore from the surcharge in the remaining months of the current financial year, according to the board. The deficit rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season has resulted in a severe power shortage at the State level.

The accident at the Sabarigiri powerhouse and the reduced availability from Central power generating stations resulted in the present power crisis, according to KSEB sources.

The board has been incurring additional expenses on account of the rise in prices of liquid fuels and naphtha which are used by various power generating stations.