19 paise surcharge to continue in October too

Thiruvananthapuram: The electricity board will continue 19 paise surcharge for a unit of electricity in October as well. The board has released a notification stipulating a 10 paise surcharge for a unit of electricity in the month of October. In addition, the 9 paise surcharge approved by the regulatory commission will also remain valid. Combining these, the total surcharge to be paid by the consumers for every single unit of electricity they utilise will amount to 19 paise.

By levying surcharge on consumers, KSEB is trying to recover the additional expenses incurred in the month of August. The board had to shell out an additional Rs 69.82 crores in August. To recover this amount, technically, a surcharge of 37 paise shall be imposed.

However, the regulatory commission has capped the maximum surcharge for every month at 10 paise. Hence, the remaining 27 paise will add up to the default payments for the month of August.

Scanty rainfall and cancellation of long term electricity contracts have forced the board to shell out additional money in the month of September as well. Hence, the current surcharge rates will most likely extend to November as well.

Regulatory commission will review the situation in the beginning of November. But as per the reports coming in, the overall surcharge of 19 paise is likely to remain for a pretty long time. 

Meanwhile, the commission is also expected to come up with a major announcement regarding overall hike in electricity rates in the state in the coming days. However, at the moment, they are reportedly holding back owing to differences with the KSEB and the state government regarding the cancellation of long term electricity contracts.