Staff Reporter
Panaji
The electricity department has proposed an average power tariff hike of 6 per cent this year beginning from June for consumers in the state under the multi-year tariff (MYT) petition, which has been submitted to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for approval.
The MYT, which is for a period of five years (2025-2030), has also proposed an increase in energy tariffs by 5.6 per cent in 2026-27, followed by 4.9 per cent in 2027-28, and no hikes proposed for 2028-29
and 2029-30.
The petition has said the tariff hikes will go towards covering a revenue gap of Rs 408.8 crore in 2025-26, Rs 188.7 crore in 2026-27, and Rs 96.1 crore in 2027-28.
Furthermore by 2028-29 and 2029-2030, the department will operate with a revenue surplus of Rs 45 crore and
Rs 127.5 crore respectively.
The revenue shortfalls in the first three years of the MYT period are on account of increasing power demand, repair and maintenance costs and capital expenditure projected at total Rs 6,150.2 crore over the next five years, the petition has said.
The proposed hike for domestic consumers includes an increase of Rs 0.60/kW/month in fixed charges and a rise in energy rates from Rs 0.06 to Rs 0.35 per kWh per month. For high tension industrial and commercial consumers the electricity department has proposed to increase the time-of-day (ToD) tariffs, during peak hours from 120 per cent of the normal tariff to
140 per cent.
Further the electricity department also intends to extend the ToD tariff structure for all low tension consumers (excluding domestic) over the
coming year.
The department has pointed out that the proposed tariff hike is excluding fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges or any other taxes, electricity duty and levies that could be imposed by the state government.
As per the tariff petition, the electricity demand in the state is expected to rise by 10 per cent this year, 11.2 per cent in FY27 and FY28, 12 per cent FY29, and 13 per cent in FY30.
Two petitions have been filed by the department to the commission for approval – petition for business plan for the fourth MYT control period (FY 2025–30), and the true-up of 2023–24 and tariff determination.
The documents are available on the JERC website for inspection.
The JERC has set May 9 as the date for public hearing at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall, for consumers to give their objections or suggestions in person.
