Bhubaneswar, March 22: Lakhs of electricity consumers today heaved a sigh of relief as the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) rejected demands of distribution companies to enhance electricity tariff.

"There will not be any increase in power tariff this year," announced an OERC spokesperson.

The OERC also said that they had taken steps to check pilferage of power and asked the distribution companies to initiate steps accordingly. There has been no change in rate for power transmission either. Various power generation companies, such as the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), four distribution companies, power trading companies, such as Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco), the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) and others, had argued for enhancing the power tariff. However, the consumers' federations had opposed the move and also filed cases against the move.

Last year, the power tariff was enhanced by 20 paise per unit for domestic consumers while it was increased by Rs 40 paise per unit in the agriculture sector.

The domestic consumers will continue to pay at Rs 2.50 per unit for first 50 units, at Rs 3.35 for the next 100 units and at Rs 3.78 for the next 200 units. The price was variable according to slabs.

In its order, the OERC argued that as the power producer would use the coal produced within the country and would not depend on the imported coal, the cost of production will not go up. "The production cost of power will not go up and the consumers should also get the benefit of it," said an OERC official, adding that the power produced from the independent power producers would also be available to the state.

However, the OERC has given Rs 42 crore to Gridco, which the company will keep in reserve to deal with emergencies such as sudden rise in the price of coal. The OERC has also earmarked Rs 30 crore for purchase of power from renewable energy sources.

To check wastage and pilferage of power, the OERC has allocated Rs 100 crore to Gridco to go for a power audit. "The power audit will give a clear picture on the requirement of power by distribution companies, the trading companies and the need of power particularly in a specific area. By taking remedial measures, a lot of power can be saved," said a senior official of OERC.