North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association worried over power tariff

Hike of Rs 1875 per month against Rs 1000 per month

GUWAHATI: The North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) has expressed grave concern over the proposal of the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) for power tariff hike for all categories of consumers to meet additional revenue requirement for the financial year 2019-20 to 2021-22.

NESSIA State president Sailen Baruah and State secretary Kumud Chandra Medhi, after submitting its objection petition to the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC ), said at a meeting of MSME entrepreneurs and domestic consumers, called for the purpose at Industrial Estate Bamunimaidam, that the move particularly on fix charge was unwarranted hit the common man and entrepreneurs adversely .

“The NESSIA urges the AERC to scrape such proposal of the APDCL. Any further increase in power tariff will sound the death knell for the micro sector and small industries having connection load up to 50 KVA in the State” , Baruah said. For domestic sector consumers having connection up to 25 KW, the company has proposed Rs 75 per KW / month as fixed charge on connected load against the existing Rs 40 per KW per month, which means a consumer of 25 KW connection will have to pay Rs 75 KW Per month into 25 KW ie, Rs 1875 per month against Rs 1000 per month, he said.

As stated in a press release, the NESSIA urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to intervene in the matter in the greater interest of the small industries and also suggested the APDCL to purchase more power at cheaper rates to improve the present and future power scenario. It further urged the APDCL to reduce its transmission and distribution losses besides taking steps to realize huge amounts of outstanding power bills from defaulters including government departments and establishments.

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