Chandigarh, May 15 (). Two days after winning the Jalandhar by-election on the basis of 300 units of free electricity to every household and other public welfare schemes, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab on Monday raised electricity rates for domestic and commercial consumers from 25 to 89 paise per unit. Gave.
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has released the new tariff for those consuming more than 300 units of electricity per month and for the non-residential sector who do not get any subsidy.
As per the new tariff, which will come into effect from Tuesday, May 16, the tariff has been revised to Rs 4.19 per unit (an increase of 70 paise per unit) for the first 100 units for loads up to 2 kW; Rs 6.64 per unit for 101 to 300 units (an increase of 80 paise per unit); and Rs 7.75 per unit (increase of 45 paise per unit) for above 300 units.
The current tariff for consumers with load between two kW and seven kW is Rs 3.74 per unit for the first 100 units, Rs 5.84 per unit for 101 to 300 units and Rs 7.30 per unit for above 300 units. Now the new tariff for these three categories will be Rs 4.44, Rs 6.64 and Rs 7.75 per unit respectively.
For those consuming up to 20 KVA in the industrial category, the tariff has been increased from Rs 5.53 to Rs 5.67 per unit.
Justifying the hike, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the revised tariff would not affect the common people. The increase will be borne by the government.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has mastered the politics of lies and deceit by announcing huge power hike for all categories of consumers soon after winning the Jalandhar bypoll.
Demanding immediate rollback of the back-breaking hike, he said AAP has punished and betrayed Punjabis for reposing faith in the party.
In a statement issued here, the Akali Dal president said, “AAP fought the Jalandhar bypoll by demonstrating its 300 units free electricity scheme.” With today’s power surge that too is effectively over. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann argues that the Punjab government will give subsidy to the consumers. The extra cost borne by them while availing the free scheme of 300 units by paying PSPCL is an eyesore.
PSPCL already owes Rs 20,400 crore to the government. He is not in a position to bear the extra burden.
Badal said, the AAP government has increased the power tariffs of all categories including the lowest bracket. In fact, the highest hike has been made for consumers in the lower bracket. The zero to 100 units category has been increased by 70 paise per unit and the 100 to 300 units category is facing a hike of 80 paise per unit.
Stating that the common man would be affected the most, Badal said: You have shown your true colours. It has proved that it cannot be trusted. It has deliberately postponed power hike till Jalandhar parliamentary by-election and is again lying to consumers that it will give subsidy to weaker sections. If its purpose is to do so then why did it increase?
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