A high-voltage resentment is brewing among power consumers here over the proposed power tariff hike.

The South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited proposes to hike power tariff by 20.66 per cent for 2015-16. The Bihar Electricity Regularity Commission conducted a public hearing on Wednesday. Commission chairman U.N. Panjiyar, member S.C. Jha and others faced the public ire.

Social organisations and prominent citizens (consumers) slammed the Bhagalpur Electricity Distribution Company Pvt. Ltd (BEDCPL) for its 'anti-people' attitude. 'We protested at the hearing and have decided to intensify our position against such an anti-people moves,' said Prakesh Chandra Gupta, coordinator of Bijli Upbhokta Sangharsh Samiti, a body of power consumers here. He said power companies impose additional burden on consumers for losses arising out of their faults.

Ashok Jibrajika, president, Bhagalpur district Nagrik Sangh, alleged that private companies buy power at Rs 5 per unit and sell it at Rs 7.50 per unit even though the government gives them a subsidy of Rs 1.68 per unit.

Panjiyar told reporters the public hearing would be completed across divisions by March after which the hike would be decided. He confirmed that most participants criticised the company at the hearing.