PATNA: The Bihar Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (BERC) offered a significant respite to just about 1.7 crore energy shoppers within the state by not permitting any hike in electrical energy costs beneath its annual energy tariff order for fiscal 2022-23 pronounced on Friday.
The 2 energy distribution corporations (discoms) — North Bihar Energy Distribution Firm Restricted (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Energy Distribution Firm Restricted (SBPDCL) — had proposed round 9.9% hike within the retail electrical energy tariff. “The fee has retained the prevailing tariff charges and stuck costs,” BERC’s chairman Shishir Sinha stated.
In one other respite to city home shoppers, the BERC turned down a proposal from discoms to cut back the variety of slabs for energy costs from three to 2. They'd proposed the merger of slabs of ‘101-200’ models and ‘above 200’ models into one ‘above 100’. Had the proposal been accepted, these consuming electrical energy above 101 models must pay Rs8.05 per unit. The present slabs stipulate Rs6.95 per unit for 101-200 slab and Rs8.05 for above 200 models.
That aside, the BERC has allowed the creation of a separate class for oxygen producers beneath the excessive stress (HT) classes in view of Covid-19 pandemic and important requirement of oxygen. It has additionally allowed a slew of incentives for energy consumption by industrial models. For example, a proposal to create a brand new ‘Excessive Pressure Provide-Industrial Providers (HTIS)’ class beneath the prevailing HTSS (excessive stress specified service) classes has been authorised.
“The proposal to permit load issue incentives for all newly created HTIS has been additionally authorised. To advertise industries and utilise surplus energy, the BERC has determined to separate load issue incentive in HTSS class,” Sinha stated.
Specialists hailed the measures for industrial models. “In a layman’s phrases, the load issue incentive will enable rebates for industrial models for extra consumption of electrical energy. For example, an industrial unit will get a rebate if it runs for 60% and above of complete load issue, like greater than 16 hours in complete 24 hours in a day,” stated Nand Sharma, former BERC guide and an electrical energy professional.
The BERC has additionally authorised creation of a brand new class beneath HTIS classes for electrical car charging stations.
The 2 discoms had submitted their tariff petitions for the following fiscal to the BERC in November final. As per the stories submitted by them, the state had 1.69 crore shoppers as on March 31, 2021. The projected variety of shoppers for fiscal 2022-23 is round 1.82 crores. It additional acknowledged that the common energy buy value of the discoms is Rs4.29 per kWh (kilowatt hour) and the common value of provide for each of them is Rs 7.22/kWh.