No Hike In Power Tariff For Domestic Consumers In Odisha This Year: OERC

The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has not affected any change in the retail tariff in the State for the financial year 2022-23. Simplified, it will mean, the domestic consumers will not pay anything more on monthly bill this year. 

Secretary, OERC Priyabrata Patnaik, said, “Consumers have to pay Rs 3, Rs4.80, Rs5.80 and Rs6.20 per unit for the consumption of 0-50, 50-200, 200-400 and above 400 units, respectively. These were the tariffs fixed last year.”

This apart, in rural areas, consumers who use their power through correct meter and pay bill in time will be given a rebate of 10 paisa per unit, Patnaik said at a press conference on Thursday. 

About reasons for keeping last year’s fee structure intact, Patnaik said, “There was a regulatory surplus of Rs 355 crore with the discoms in the financial year 2020-21. The commission used the surplus money to save consumers from extra burden.”

He said if the LT domestic and single phase consumers will opt for digital payment method like PayTM or GooglePay, they will get a rebate of 3 percent over and above the normal rebate. “Last year, it was two percent,” the Secretary added. 

Patnaik said, "To encourage use of Electric Vehicles, charging of Electric Vehicles through public charging system /station shall be covered under general purpose category and single part tariff of Rs5.50 per unit will be applicable. 

“The tariff has not been hiked for any section of consumers. Rather, concession has been provided to general consumers, agriculture sector and industry sector,” Patnaik added. 

For all the industrial consumers drawing power in EHT shall be eligible for a rebate of 10 paisa per unit for all the units consumed in excess of load factor, the OERC Secretary added. 

LT Industrial supply consumers shall avail a rebate of 10 paisa per unit for all the consumed if their monthly operating load factor is more than 60 per cent, Patnaik informed. 

About the Green Consumer Certification by discoms, the OERC has also made a provision. If their 100 percent power requirement is met from renewable sources, they will get the certification. The consumer has to pay additional 50 paisa per unit as premium over and above the normal rate of charges. The facility will be in force for one year from the effective date of this order.