No plans to increase electricity tariff in Odisha: Deputy CM KV Singh Deo

Odisha deputy Chief Minister K V  Singh Deo on Monday clarified that there is no plan to increase electricity tariffs in the state. 

Speaking to media in Bhubaneswar, he mentioned that no discussions have been held regarding a tariff hike, nor is there any proposal in place for the same. 

"No discussion has been held on increasing the electricity tariff. Right now, there is no plan for increasing the energy tariff for anybody," Singh Deo said.

On the other hand, Energy department Secretary Vishal Dev said that there has been no tariff hike in the last two years.

The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) will conduct hearings and take necessary decision  after considering all stakeholders' inputs. The decision on whether to increase tariffs will be made by the commission, Dev stated.

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"The OERC will decide about the electricity tariff hike. But if you see, the tariff has not been increased in the last two years. OERC will listen to all parties and take a call," Dev informed.

Meanwhile,  GRIDCO has proposed a tariff hike of Rs 3.82 per unit and submitted its annual revenue requirement to the OERC. 

GRIDCO's CMD emphasised that this is part of an annual process and is based on total cost estimation, ensuring that it does not directly affect consumers.

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"This is an annual process. Odisha's average power purchase cost is one of the cheapest barring Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim," Trilochan Panda, GRIDCO CMD said.