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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Power bill shocker: Pkl locals ready to knock at HERC doors
Panchkula: Concerned residents of Panchkula have come together to draft and circulate a petition in response to a recent steep increase in power bills. The petition, drafted by the Federation of Residents Associations (FORA), an umbrella body of residents welfare associations, will be formally submitted to the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission on Thursday in a bid to challenge and reduce the hike. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Residents have shown solidarity and pushed for fair and affordable utility pricing. "We studied different bills and found that the cumulative effect of this revision, as notified by the respondent, is not only excessive and disproportionate but also amounts to an unjust enrichment by way of inflated charges imposed on consumers without adequate justification or supporting cost analysis. These arbitrary escalations, especially in the domestic and industrial sectors, violate the principle of reasonableness in tariff setting, fail to protect the consumer interest envisaged under the Electricity Act, 2003, and merit urgent judicial scrutiny," said RP Malhotra, president, FORA. "Thus, we are moving the petition Thursday. During elections, we were told that no power rates would be hiked, but the opposite happened, that too unannounced. Fixed charges are adding to a huge increase," he added. Solution Box's founder Mohit Gupta said, "At this stage, very few people understand the implications. It is around Rs 10,000 per year for 10 kW+ connections and Rs 4,000 per year for 5 kW connections. Add to this the enhanced slab rates. It will make a huge impact on small and medium domestic consumers." B R Mehta, a Sector 25 resident, said, "How will HERC justify before the court of law when challenged legally that consumers with much higher consumption are getting much lower bills than consumers with much lower consumption being asked to pay much higher amounts of bills?" Many residents said they have received bills with an increase of almost 100 to 400% compared to last year's bill. They are calling it illogical while the power department has said they have prepared bills as per commission's revised order. The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission had raised domestic and industrial categories from 20 to 30 paise per kWh (kilowatt hours)/kVAh from last year. MSID:: 121627153 413 |
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Steep power bill increase comes as shock for Pkl residents
Residents of Panchkula have received electricity bills showing increase of 100% to 400% for the period from mid-April to mid-May, compared to the previous year, despite minimal changes in unit consumption. While the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission implemented a rate increase of 20 to 30 paise per kWh/kVAh for domestic and industrial categories, an analysis of various bills reveals disproportionate charges despite marginal increase in consumption. This has had a particularly adverse effect on middle-class families, the economically disadvantaged and pensioners. S K Nayar, Citizens' Welfare Association president from Sector 15, experienced a 145% increase in charges while maintaining similar consumption. His bill rose to Rs 2,042 for 210 units, compared to Rs 833 for 216 units in April 2024. "It is a loot of public money, and a wrong step was taken. Earlier, there used to be a minimum charge, and even if you went out of the city for a few months, the bill amount would not pinch you. But they are imposing fixed charges, which have burned a hole in the pockets of the common man," he rued. Sector 25 resident Mohit Gupta received a bill of Rs 5,641 for 668.25 units, while last April's bill was Rs 2,673 for 496.23 units. Despite lower consumption previously, this year's rate increase has resulted in substantially higher charges. Sant Singh Gill, former RWA president of Sector 25, saw his bill increase to Rs 3,745, as compared to Rs 1,286 last year, representing a 191% rise in charges against a 47% increase in consumption. Analysis shows varied impacts: Cases with abnormal consumption increases saw 430% higher bills, while 38% consumption increases resulted in 111% higher bills. Even with 21% reduced consumption, bills increased by 87%. Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVNL) chief engineer (Operations) Chandan Singh said, "The bills have been generated as per HERC's current rates. Some may have felt bills are higher because consumption has increased. As far as fixed charges are concerned, it is a certain amount for certain uses." The 2025-26 electricity order confirms rate increases of 20 to 30 paise per kWh/kVAh for both domestic and industrial categories in Haryana.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Ex-IPS officer Pachnanda among 45 felicitated at Summit India's ‘Atharv Bharat'
RK Pachnanda, IPS officer (retd), was honoured with National Excellence Award 2025 at Summit India's 'Atharv Bharat' event held in Chandigarh on Friday. The awards were presented by Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria, along with Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. As many as 45 persons were awarded for their contribution in the fields of education, public service and social development. Pachnanda served as the former chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission as well as the Haryana Public Service Commission. He is also former DG ITBP and NDRF, and commissioner of police, Kolkata. Others awarded during the occasion included Maj Gen Jagjit Singh Nanda (retd); educationalists Manu Raj Malhotra and Saadgi Malhotra; IT expert Kirti Dhingra, and retired chief engineer Rajat Bhattacharya. The keynote addresses delivered by the governors highlighted the role of inclusive leadership and visionary action in shaping a stronger and self-reliant India. In his address, Kataria said, 'True national development is rooted in the empowerment of individuals through education, ethics and empathy.' Shukla said, 'When leaders in education, governance, and social development come together, the nation moves forward with strength and a clarity of vision.'
