Assam Power Distribution Company Limited withdraws proposed tariff hike

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In the wake of adverse reaction from the public, the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) on Friday night withdrew its decision to levy a Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPPA) charge of 79 paisa per unit on all categories of consumers.

According to senior officials of the APDCL rescind the hike was taken by the Managing Director of APDCL as per instructions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The officials said that the hike has been withdrawn in the general public interest, but added that the APDCL is likely to announce a revised tariff hike of around Rs 30 paisa per unit.

The APDCL had earlier announced that the hike would be applicable for electricity bills for the months of November and December this year and January, 2023. According to the notice issued earlier by the APDCL, the levy was to be made as per provisions of the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment) Regulations, 2010. The notice said that the relevant bills will be the ones generated in December, 2022 and January and February, 2023.

It had also specified that "all adjustments regarding short/excess recovery due to seasonal variation of consumption within the stipulated period will be adjusted in subsequent periods or as may be directed by the AERC."

It may be mentioned that there are three categories of domestic consumers under the APDCL based on units of power consumed – one category of consumers (up to 120 units) is charged Rs 5.30 (less 75 paisa subsidy under a government scheme) per unit, the next category (121-240 units) is charged Rs 6.60 per unit and the last category (over 241 units) is charged Rs 7.60 per unit.

Also read:  Assam Power Distribution Company Limited hikes tariff by 79 paisa per unit till January, 2023

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