Energy minister says no power tariff hike, but KERC conducts public hearing

BENGALURU:  Energy Minister V Sunil Kuamr has insisted there will be no hike in power tariff in the state, but surprisingly, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KREC) has started holding public hearings to record objections to the proposed hike in power tariff suggested by Escoms.

Energy Minister V Sunil Kuamr has said there will be no hike in the power tariff.

Earlier, V Sunil Kumar said that no proposal was submitted before the government to increase electricity tariff. On Tuesday too, he said no such plan was before the government on the floor of the House. But the Escoms have already submitted a proposal to hike tariff to KERC in December. The regulatory body has now started conducting public hearings. However, the hotel owners’ association in the city has opposed any hike in power tariff.

PC Rao, president of the Bangalore Hotel Owners’ Association.

“The minister has said there will be no hike in the power tariff, but on the other hand, the Escoms have proposed a power tariff and KERC has started a public hearing. It is unscientific and unreasonable to burden consumers. We have written a letter to the KERC and the government in this regard. Earlier, the minister had said they had plans to lower the power tariff”, pointed out P C Rao, president of the Bangalore Hotel Owners’ Association.