RERC hikes retail power tariffs in the state by 11 per cent

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has hiked retail power tariffs in the state by 11 per cent. There is no increase in electricity charges for consumers of the small domestic, small non-domestic and industry categories. The increase in tariffs is mainly for the domestic, non-domestic and agricultural categories. The increase in power tariffs for consumers in the agricultural category will be borne by the state government through subsidy. The retail power tariffs in the state were last revised in September 2016. In a separate development, the RERC has directed that the Rajasthan state load despatch centre (SLDC) should be separated from the state transmission utility, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (RVPNL), as mandated in the Electricity Act, 2003 and the Rajasthan State Electricity Distribution Management Responsibility Act, 2016. The commission has advised the state government to initiate the process for ring-fencing of the SLDC, with the intent of either forming a new government company or working out a suitable arrangement and granting it functional autonomy.