Dehradun: Another inflationary blow is about to smash the pockets of the people of Uttarakhand. This time the electricity rates have been increased in the state. There was talk of imposing a surcharge on electricity bills in the state. The Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the proposal of levying a surcharge on the electricity bills of the Energy Corporation. From September 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, 5 paise to 86 paise per unit will be charged as a surcharge on the electricity bills of common people including industry, commercial and other sections.

The Energy Corporation had demanded from the Electricity Regulatory Commission to compensate the burden of 1,355 crores lying in the form of costly power purchases as a surcharge. The commission, after a long hearing process, allowed only 379 crores to be recovered as a surcharge. The remaining 976 crores will be reimbursed from next year's expenditure. In the form of a surcharge, this recovery will be done from the general public from the electricity bills between September 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. Relief from surcharge has been given only to BPL and snowbound power consumers. In all other categories, the burden has been increased by way of surcharge.

In the category of domestic electricity consumers, the weight of consumers spending up to 100 units has been increased by 5 paise, 101 to 200 units by 20 paise, 201 to 400 units by 30 paise, more than 400 units by 35 paise per unit. 30 paise per unit has been increased on domestic category electricity consumers up to 4 kW, 25 kW and above and LT and HT industries by up to 62 paise per unit. A surcharge of 86 paise per unit has been levied on hoarding advertisements.

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