It's against Telangana policy, say industrialists on power tariff hike
Hyderabad: Industrialists faulted the Telangana state power discoms for proposing to tariff hike for the sector as it works against the policy of incentives being offered by the state government to attract new industries in the State.
Most industrialists complained that the power distribution companies had taken feedback from one section of industrialists before proposing the tariff hike to the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The meeting was held over a month ago only with representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry. Other major industrial associations and its members like Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry, associations of spiining and textile mills, the steel industry to name a few were not invited, sources said.
Arun Kumar D, president of AGI Glasspack Industries, pointed out that while the K. Chandrasekhar Rao government was offering incentives such as power at a lower cost to industries coming to the state to set up their units, the discoms want to burden the existing industries.
“There will be no level playing field. As it is, there are not many orders for any industry. At a time when we were appreciating the government for giving a much-needed lifeline to the industries by ensuring 24x7 power supply for more than a year, the tariff hike has come as a major disappointment and is not good for the growth of industry in Telangana,” he said.
Devendra Surana of Surana Industries said that the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry congratulated the TS government for 24x7 power supply, it was disappointed with the proposed tariff hike particularly at a time when energy prices in the international market were coming down.
“Power is available at lower prices and there is no need to increase the tariff when industry has just started to get back into rhythm due to the 24x7 power supply,” Mr Surana said.
New tariff to be effective from May 1
Electricity bills for the month of April would be collected based on the existing tariff. The revised tariff hike, if allowed by the regulatory commission, would come into effect from May 1.
The public hearing on the tariff hike sought by Southern Discom will be held at the The Federation of Telangana and AndhraPradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Building, Red Hills, from 10 am to 5 pm on April 6 and April 7.
For the Northern Discom, it will be held at Karimnagar ZP School Compound from 10 am to 5 pm on April 9.
