Board to raise Rs62.26 cr during the next 3 months
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Electricity consumers in Kerala are in for a minor shock when they receive their next bill.
Kerala Electricity Board Ltd (KSEBL) is readying itself to charge 10 paise as fuel surcharge per unit in addition to the usual bill for consumption from the ensuing power bill.
The surcharge will be effective for the consumption period from February 15, 2020 for a period of three months. However, domestic consumers with connected load of 500 watts or below and those with consumption of 20 units or below per month are exempted from the burden of the new surcharge.
KSEB comes up with fuel surcharge pleas with its regulator, Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSREC), for every financial quarter to recover additional money incurred, if any, on power purchases due to the variation in fuel prices.
The surcharge will be charged on the bills against consumption from February 20 to May 14, 2020 – 90 days or until the approved amount of Rs62.26 crore is fully realised, whichever is earlier, an order in the KSEBL site noted.
“The bills/invoice issued to the consumers will invariably contain the details of fuel surcharge, in addition to the fixed charge, energy charge, duty, meter rent etc.,” it said.
KSEBL had filed a petition for the approval of fuel surcharge for the period from April 2019 to June 2019 on September 27, 2019 amounting to Rs72.75 crore before the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC).
It had sought to allow the Board to recover additional financial liability incurred by KSEBL as fuel surcharge from October 2019 onwards at 13 paise per unit.
After considering the petition filed by KSEBL, the objections raised by the stakeholders, the additional details submitted by KSEBL and also the provisions of the Electricity Act 2003, and the Tariff Regulations 2018, KSREC allowed the Board on February 14, 2020 to recover fuel surcharge amounting to Rs62,26 crore at the rate of 10 paise per unit from the consumers over a period of three months.
