Mukhtiyar Singh conducts a public hearing on tariff revision in Bistupur on Sunday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (Jusco), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel, will not hike power tariff in Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

The utilities company made this clear at a public hearing on tariff revision conducted by Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) at Subernarekha Bhawan in Adityapur on Sunday. A separate public hearing on Tata Steel’s tariff in its command areas was also hosted at United Club in Bistupur.

JSERC’s chairman Mukhtiyar Singh conducted both the hearings.

“This time, there will be no increase in power tariff. About 5,000 people will be benefited,” said Rajesh Rajan, a Jusco spokesperson. Jusco currently charges Rs 1.90 per unit from consumers in residential category and Rs 3.95 per unit from commercial ones.

At the second hearing that lasted for more than an hour, consumers came up with many suggestions that were noted down by the commission. “We will arrive at a decision only after considering the suggestions,” Singh said.

In its tariff petition, Tata Steel has suggested a proposed hike of Rs 3.50 per Kwh against the existing Rs 2.70 per Kwh in domestic category and Rs 5.25 per Kwh in comparison to Rs 4.30 per Kwh for commercial category.