Power tariff set to go up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Electricity Regulatory Commission has allowed the KSEB to collect thermal fuel surcharge from all categories of consumers at the rate of 25 paise per unit.The surcharge is for recovering Rs 181.14 crore spent by the KSEB on buying power from outside from October 2010 to March 2011. The surcharge will be collected by KSEB and other distribution licencees for a period of six months or until Rs 181.14 crore is realised, whichever is earliest, the Commission said in its order on Friday.The KSEB had filed separate petitions for recovering the amount. For the October- December 2010 period, the power utility had claimed Rs 53.69 crore and for the January-March 2011 period, Rs 107.54 crore.The KSEB had put the total liability at Rs 161.23 crore.After considering the KSEB’s energy exports, the Commission had allowed Rs 150.29 crore as eligible for recovery through surcharge, and added to it Rs 30.85 crore, the amount remaining as balance after adjusting fuel surcharge claims for the previous quarters to it, bringing the total amount due for recovery to Rs 181.14 crore. The KSEB has to file details of the collection of surcharge every 30 days before the Commission.All licencees, including the KSEB, have been ordered to clearly state the rate of surcharge clearly in the electricity bills.