OERC Keeps Power Tariffs Unchanged For Odisha Consumers For 2023-24

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) kept the power tariff unchanged for retail consumers in the state for 2023-24 financial year.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, OERC Secretary Priyabrata Patnaik said there will be no change in the retail power supply tariff in the state in the next fiscal. Several concessions have been given to the consumers.

The rural low transmission (LT) domestic consumers who consume power through correct meter and pay the bill in time will get a rebate of 10 paise per unit in addition to the existing rebate, he said.

The decision is likely to benefit over 95 lakh electricity consumers in the state will be benefitted from the decision.

Rebate of 4 per cent over and above normal rebate will be allowed on the bill to the LT domestic and single-phase general purpose category of consumers only and above all the rebates for payment through digital mode. Earlier, the rebate for online payment of power tariff was 3 per cent.

The electricity tariff for domestic consumer for first 50 units will remain Rs 3 per unit, while it will be Rs 4.80 per unit for consumption between 50 and 200 units, he said.

Similarly, the tariff will be Rs 5.80 per unit for consumption between 200 and 400 units, while Rs 6.20 will be charged per unit for power consumption above 400 units.

For domestic consumers, the Delayed Payment Surcharge (DPS) has been waived off. So, the penalty levied after the rebate date will not be charged, Patnaik said.

Tariff of Allied Agro-Industrial Activities (Cold Storage) has been reduced by Rs 1.60 paise per unit in HT and LT which were Rs.4.60 and Rs.4.70 per unit earlier.

Off peak hours for this purpose has been defined as 2 pm to 6 pm in the day and 12 midnight to 6 am of the next day. This was earlier only 12 midnight to 6 am of the next day.

The green energy certification premium has been reduced from 50 paise per unit to 25 paise per unit. The consumers of any category can get a Green Consumer Certification by DISCOMs, if 100% of their power requirement is met from renewable sources by DISCOMs.

Railways have been given 25 paise per unit rebate for all the units consumed in addition to all other rebates they are other-wise eligible.

OPTCL shall provide exemption of 20 paise per unit on STU (Transmission) charges to captive/open access consumers on consumption of energy from RE projects commissioned in the state during the RE policy period for 15 years. This exemption shall be allowed for 5 more years in case of projects commissioned before 31.03.2026.

Sources said the Odisha government had recently proposed to the OERC not to increase power tariff in 2023-24. It showed surplus power generation as the reason for not raising the tariff.

The Commission announced its order after hearing the distribution companies and all the stakeholders.