Restrictions on power consumption have been extended to low-tension (LT) and domestic consumers effective Thursday. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission issued the orders here.
The Commission accepted the proposals put up the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) with modifications.
New curbs
LT consumers are eligible to consume energy up to 90 per cent of the average consumption at normal tariff. For domestic consumers, quota under normal tariff will be 300 units a month.
Consumption above the limit will be charged at the rate of Rs 10 a unit. Fuel surcharge will not be applicable for excess consumption charged at the higher rate.
There will be no restriction on maximum demand either. Restrictions on LT consumers will be effective up to May 31.
The commission will review the situation in the second week of May.
KSEB PETITON
The KSEB had filed a petition for extending power restrictions to LT consumers. Curbs had already been imposed on high-tension (HT) and extra high-tension (EHT) consumers at the rate of 10 per cent.
A cyclical load-shedding for half-an-hour during peak time had also been introduced.
The Commission said that the tariff impact can be minimised if the burden is shared by all consumers.
KSEB had proposed to impose Rs 10 per unit on domestic consumers for consumption above 300 units over two months.
The Commission felt that this would significantly increase the bill and lead to a “tariff shock” for about 10 lakh consumers.
Power restrictions are a temporary measure to tide over the financial difficulties of KSEB and to persuade consumers to reduce consumption, the Commission said. This cannot be employed as a measure for indirectly hiking tariffs, resulting in steep increase in power bills, it added.