BJP leader Jagadish Shettar slams power tariff hike, calls it “unscientific”

BJP Leader in the Karnataka Assembly Jagadish Shettar today slammed the decision to increase power tariff, calling it "unscientific". Shettar, in a statement.

Bengaluru, Mar 3: BJP Leader in the Karnataka Assembly Jagadish Shettar today slammed the decision to increase power tariff, calling it “unscientific”. Shettar, in a statement. Said, “This decision to increase the tariff is against the interest of the people, and it has come at a time when people had a lot of expectations from the upcoming state budget.”

Holding that there was no need to increase power tariff, he said the government has to take steps towards controlling power leakages and has to conduct energy audit. He said if the audit is conducted, there will be a situation under which power tariff could be decreased instead of being increased.

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission had yesterday approved revision of electricity supply tariff for all the electricity supply companies in the state for the Financial Year 2015-16, by allowing an average tariff increase of 13 paise per unit for different categories of consumers.

Industry body Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has also opposed the increase in tariff.

“Though the increase is marginal, having regard to regulatory asset of Rs 1106 crore created by KERC (recoverable during 2016-17), we oppose the increase. The Commission should have given instructions to increase the efficiency and reduce the transmission and distribution losses,” FKCCI in a statement said.