Ranchi: Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam (JBVNL) is considering a special subsidy, to be transferred directly into bank accounts, for every consumer who has a differently abled family member.
The catch is that the rate of subsidy and other modalities will depend on whether the Jharkhand State Energy Regulatory Commission (JSERC) accepts the power utility's almost 100 per cent tariff hike proposal from the next fiscal.
The JBVNL has also proposed to introduce a new sub-category for primitive tribal groups (PTGs), which will entitle them to special rebate and encourage bona fide power connections in rural areas.
There are also proposals to introduce kilowatt-based fixed charges for all consumer categories to ensure optimum utilisation of power; shifting of consumers having installation-based tariff to demand-based tariff; and migration from kWh-based billing to kVAh billing in a few categories, among others.
Managing director of JBVNL Rahul Purwar, addressing a news conference at his Dhurwa office on Thursday, offered a sneak peek into the proposed tariff structure.
Under its new plan, the JBVNL intends to hike rates by almost 100 per cent across categories.
For instance, rural domestic consumers currently pay a nominal Rs 16 per connection. The proposal is Rs 60 instead. In urban areas, there are various categories based on units. For 0-200 units, Rs 3/kWh is charged, besides Rs 50 per connection. For 201 units and above, Rs 3.6/kWh is taken, besides Rs 80 per connection. In both categories, the rate plan is Rs 7/kWh and Rs 80 per connection.
"As per the National Tariff Policy, 2016, all discoms must end cross subsidy, which it gets from the government. So, discoms have to become self-sufficient. As a result, we shall have to hike tariff to suit all stakeholders," said Purwar.
M.P. Yadav, public relations officer of JBVNL, said they had already submitted a detailed hike proposal to JSERC a couple of months ago. The JBVNL has also uploaded the same on their website for public suggestions.
On the cross subsidy, Yadav said roughly Rs 150 crore was given to JBVNL by the government every month. "If this needs to be reduced to zero, we have to hike tariffs. We are trying to do it in a way that people are not largely affected. For example, rebate for those having a special family member," he added.
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