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Consumers to pay more for power

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has issued orders fixing Rs.7.85 as the rate to be realised from all electricity connections for consumption of power above 200 units a month in October. The higher rates are to be realised in November.

KSERC chairman C Balakrishnan, when contacted, said on Friday that the rates had been fixed on the basis of Kerala State Electricity Board’s purchase of power from liquid-based power stations. Earlier, the cost of power from liquid power stations came to Rs.12 a unit, but the price of naphtha and other fuels has showed a downward trend. The fall will considerably bring down the cost of power generation at the liquid fuel stations in the State, but its benefit will reach the consumers only by the beginning of December.

The KSERC also passed orders bringing six power licensees within the purview of the 20 per cent power restrictions imposed on consumptions by industrial units. The new order would be applicable to Kannan Devan Plantations, Technopark, Kinfra, Kochi Port Trust, Thrissur Corporation and Rubberpark. The six licensees did not come under the purview of consumption curbs imposed earlier. The commission held a public hearing in Palakkad and Thrissur on a petition of the KSEB seeking more curbs and higher rates, prior to issuing the orders relating to the licensees.

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