Bhubaneswar, March 21: The Orissa government today announced that it would file a review petition before the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) to review the power tariff revision.

The revised tariff, notified by the commission on Friday night, would come into force from April 1.

The revised power tariff, which ranged between 20 and 50 paisa per unit, had sparked off sharp reactions among consumer organisations and citizen bodies.

“The domestic consumers, especially those consuming low, will be burdened more,” said Subhranshu Rath, general secretary of the Confederation of Citizens’ Associations, Bhubaneswar.

Earlier, the domestic consumers, consuming up to 100 units, used to pay the electricity dues at the rate Rs 1.40 paisa per unit. Now, the slab has been reduced to 50 units and the consumers will have to pay at the rate of Rs 1.40 paisa per unit.

Similarly, the tariff for electricity consumption above 50 units and less than 200 units has been fixed at Rs 3.50 paisa per unit as against the earlier rate of Rs 3.10 paisa for consumption between 100 and 200 units. Similarly, the consumers will pay Rs 4.30 per unit in the slab between 200 to 400 units. Beyond 500 units, the consumers will have to pay at Rs 4.80 per unit.

Prior to hike, the domestic consumer had to pay Rs 1.40 per units upto 100 units and Rs 3.10 between 100 and 200 units and 4.10 between 200 units and 300 units.

Sabita Mohanty (32), a homemaker from Nayapalli, said: “Now, the power bill comes to around Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,400 per month. It will go up by another Rs 500 to Rs 600 after April. During the peak summer months, the power bill may reach Rs 2,200. We can live without air-conditioners, but we cannot switch off the fan.”

Apart from common people, the tariff hike would also hit the industries. “After a coal price hike, the power tariff revision will certainly affect the industries further,” said P.L. Kandoi, president of Kalinga Nagar Industries Association.

According to the revised power tariff, the industries, using power from high-tension lines, would pay at the rate of Rs 6.50 per unit while extra-high tension industrial tariff would be Rs 6.40 per unit. In the last financial year, it was Rs 5.30 per nut for high-tension and Rs 5.10 per nut for extra high-tension consumers.

The average energy tariff for all categories of consumers is approximately Rs 4.04 per unit in 2011-12 compared to Rs 3.20 per unit last year.

Lambasting the government for the power tariff hike, the Opposition parties today demanded a rollback. Leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh sarcastically described the power tariff hike as a “holi gift” to the people.

“The government has failed to ensure reduction of transmission and distribution loss and enhance the hydro-power generation, which is cheaper. The loss is being passed on to the consumers through tariff hike,” said Opposition chief whip Prasad Harichandan while moving an adjournment motion in the Assembly today. He demanded that government should immediately appeal to the OERC to review the tariff hike and provide subsidy to the power sector to reduce the tariff.

“We will file a review petition before the OERC for reconsideration of its decision,” said energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.

However, he claimed that the power tariff was cheaper in Orissa as compared to other states. As the minister refused to provide subsidy to power sector, the agitated Opposition members staged a walk-out.