Agartala, Sep 05, 2022, TRIPURA TIMES DESK

Agartala Sep 05: As the State is bracing for a grand celebration of Durga Puja next month, the ‘no tariff hike’ decision has brought cheers to over 10 lakh power consumers across the State. Tripura is the only state where the power tariff remained unchanged for consecutive five years.

After overcoming two years Covid induced hardships, people are still in a spot of bother owing to rising fuel prices – there was large-scale apprehension regarding tariff hikes.

However,   the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) decided to keep the existing power tariff unaltered. Single phase LT Category Connected load Limit increased for domestic and commercial categories from 3 kW to 5 KW. Moreover, a rebate of 5% for Prompt paying consumers will continue. The decision will benefit 10, 11, 247 customers in the State. 

TERC Chairman D Radhakrishna and Member Law, Jiban Krishna Sen issued the Electricity tariff order for FY 2022-23 on September 2, 2022. The Electricity tariff order shall be effective from September 1, 2022 and remain in force until further.

Meantime, speaking to Tripura Times, D Radhakrishna said, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has made significant progress compared to the last year. While Tripura is in the second position in North East, Tripura’s overall position is 22nd among 50 Discoms across the country. Tripura was in the 37th position the last year. Importantly, in terms of ranking on efficiency, Tripura is ahead of discoms of several bigger states like Karnataka, Maharastra etc.

On the 5% rebate for prompt paying consumers, a TERC press release mentioned, “the Commission, in the last Tariff Order in September 2020 provided relief by allowing a rebate of 5% for Prompt paying consumers. And also the Commission will continue the said rebate of 5% for paying timely bills encouraging the consumers to pay on time. This will also be beneficial for both consumers and the Distribution Company as it will help in improving the cash flow of the Distribution Company”.

In the press release TERC also pointed out that a new initiative was taken by proposing a separate tariff category for commercially operating electric vehicle charging stations (not for own use) at 15% discounted rate (in fixed and energy charges) than the applicable rate for LT commercial or HT commercial as applicable. TSECL was informed that the State Government would increase the Government subsidy from Rs 40 Crore to Rs 50 Crore.

Accordingly, the Commission has also given Tariff after considering Tariff subsidy with a caveat that the Government of Tripura will pay Subsidy to TSECL as per provision of Electricity Act, 2003. The Commission has further directed TSECL to recover the full Tariff in case the Government of Tripura does not pay subsidy in advance for two consecutive months.

According to the press release, TERC has done a prudence check and evaluated the Petition for FY 2017-18 to FY 2022-23 i.e, for 6 years and has approved Regulatory Gap of only Rs 60.00 Crore as against Rs 1462.00 Crore claimed by Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL). The Commission has disallowed higher T&D loss as against the target given by the Commission in the earlier Order.

In fact, the Commission has given a target of 18% T&D loss for FY 2023-24 and 20% for the current year. The Commission is of the view that increasing efficiency and reduction of T&D losses by TSECL will help in recovering the Regulatory Gap in next year, TERC press release.

While passing the Tariff Order, the Commission considered the main objectives of the Electricity Act, 2003 including the protection of the interest of consumers, the supply of electricity to all areas and the rationalization of tariffs. Besides, the Commission also took into consideration of TSECL's submissions as well as the Public responses in these proceedings, the press release mentioned.