Power rate hike comes into effect from Saturday

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has completed the procedure to impose the hiked power tariff from Saturday onwards.

The board will take meter readings of maximum consumers on Saturday itself, the official sources said. For the remaining consumers, the Board will bill as per the new rates assessing average usage.

Power tariff hike about 24 per cent for the domestic consumers was issued by the KSEB on Thursday. An average increase of 8.5 per cent tariff for power consumption imposed for all categories of consumers will mobilise an additional revenue of Rs 1027 crore for the KSEB.

There was no change in the power tariff of Rs. 1.50 for consumption of power up to 40 units, but this has been limited to BPL category families.

Other domestic consumers would have to pay Rs. 2.80 up to 50 units and the present slab system would continue with minor changes up to consumption of 250 units per month. Domestic consumers who consume more than 250 units would have to pay Rs. 5 per unit for each unit and Rs. 5.70 per unit for those who consume more than 300 units. The highest rate for domestic consumers is Rs. 7.50 per unit for those consuming more than 500 units per month.

In the case of high tension consumers, tariff hike would be around 10 per cent, the release added.