Another power tariff shocker for aam aadmi in Goa

PANJIM: As Goa braces for a scorching summer, the power tariffs in the State may surge as much as 5.19 per cent, from this month, amid expectations of record high electricity demand. 

In an order passed on March 28, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has approved an overall average power tariff hike of 5.19 per cent for the state, with the revised tariff rates coming into effect from April 1. The electricity department had proposed a power tariff hike of 6 per cent for 2023-24. Power Minister Ramakrishan Dhavalikar is on record to state that no power tariff hike would be implemented without cabinet approval. The tariff hike for the financial year 2023-24 comes on the heels of a steep increase in FPPCA (fuel and power purchase cost adjustment formula) charges levied on consumers from 0.39 per kWh in January 2022 to 1.69 per kWh in September 2022.

Moreover an additional streetlight duty of 0.08 per kWh was introduced that added another 1 per cent to the electricity bill. The order has also said that an average billing rate of `5.04 per kWh has been approved for the state as against the proposed average cost of supply of `5.87 per kWh.

According to the JERC, the order has rationalised tariff levels for cross-subsidised categories by marginally raising and reducing or maintaining the tariff levels at lower than average rates for cross-subsidising categories.

The JERC in its order observed that the State’s power purchase cost is an uncontrollable factor, and that it has gone up in recent years due to unavailability of enough domestic coal and the increased cost of blending of imported coal. The Commission has directed the Electricity Department to conduct an energy audit on priority and share the audit report within three months.