Shoma Patnaik
Panaji
Goan industry got hit by a power tariff hike on Saturday, as the government passed on the burden of higher power purchase cost to industrial consumers in the state.
The upward revision in electricity charges for industries is until January 2027, and is with immediate effect. The tariff hike is earlier than expected since previously the government had indicated an increase in tariffs from November next month, said industry sources.
They said that it is expected to end industrial load shedding ranging from two hours to four hours taking place daily since September 4, this year.
As per the revised tariff structure all high tension industrial consumers in the state will now pay an additional 80 paise per unit during solar hours (9 am to 5 pm), an additional Rs 2 per unit for 11KV users and Rs 3.25 per unit for 33 KV and 110 KV users in peak hours (5 pm to 1 am), as well as an extra 80 paise in regular hours (1 am to 9 am.)
The tariff is applicable to all 1,082, industrial consumers, of which 177 top consumers (33KV and 110 KV) and will be paying more during peak hours. The state is presently facing an 80 MW shortfall in power availability in peak hours caused by a nationwide problem of failure in hydel and wind power generation as well as shortage of coal to thermal power stations.
The Electricity Department disclosed that it is finding it difficult to meet the shortfall through purchases in the open market since rates have risen significantly in recent months.
Earlier during a October 6 meeting with industry representatives the department had said that tariffs would be increased from November 1
onwards.
