Domestic and commercial power consumers on Wednesday opposed Bihar State Electricity Board’s (BSEB’s) proposal to increase electricity tariff, suggesting that it should not discriminate between common users and the government subscribers.

The board has filed an aggregate revenue requirement tariff petition with Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (Berc), the body entrusted with the job of fixing electricity tariff for all consumers, seeking a 50 per cent rate hike to bridge its revenue gap.

During the daylong public hearing before Berc, Shiv Narayan Beria, the executive member of Bhojpur Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the board should not discriminate between common consumers and the government officers enjoying power connection to their official residence and offices that rarely pay electricity bills.

The board has filed a tariff petition for 2012-13 seeking a 50 per cent increase in electricity tariff rate in various categories, a BSEB official said, adding that it is expected that the total expenditure would be Rs 7,898 crore in the next fiscal against the board’s revenue of Rs 5,100 crore, leaving a revenue gap of Rs 2,800 crore.

The official said if the commission gives a go-ahead to the proposal, the board would fetch another Rs 1,500 crore.

Berc member S.C. Jha, on behalf of the commission, heard the objections and suggestions before deciding on the tariff rate.

To seek the views from the common man, the commission held its public hearing outside Patna for the first time at Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Gaya and Muzaffarpur.

Those who took part in the public hearing said the consumers should not be made a victim of the inefficiency of the board, whose transmission and distribu- tion loss has climbed up to 44 per cent.