Discoms lower tariff for BPL, Astha categories to 4.5 a unit
Jaipur: The state's discoms, in their revised petitions to Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) for approval of aggregate revenue requirement (ARR), electricity tariffs, and investment plans for financial year 2025–26, have reduced the power rates proposed for BPL and Astha consumers.
Earlier, Rs 6 a unit was proposed for these categories of consumers. Discoms, during the hearing of their petitions by RERC Monday, said they brought down the rate to Rs 4.5 a unit considering the views of stakeholders.
However, stakeholders said that the tariff was still higher compared to states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, where the rates are Rs 1.5 and 1.56, respectively. They highlighted that the effective fixed charge for BPL and Astha Card consumers in Rajasthan, calculated based on data from the Jaipur discom, stands at Rs 421 per kW per month, substantially higher than the corresponding rates in other states, which are just Rs 5 in Gujarat and Rs 34 in Maharashtra.
Anshuman Gothwal from Centre for Energy and Environment People (CEEP) expressed concern over the continued issues of inequity and the lack of cost-reflectiveness in the proposed tariff structure. He said, "The tariff design appears to favour high-consumption households, as they bear comparatively lower fixed charges on a per-kW basis. This results in low-usage, economically weaker consumers effectively subsidising those with higher electricity consumption—an outcome that contradicts the principles of progressive and equitable tariff design.
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