Karnataka electricity consumers get unusually high bills ahead of the launch of free power scheme

A Hubballi resident says he was expecting the government to 'play some trick' before launching the Gruha Jyoti scheme of free 200 unit power.

Karnataka electricity consumers, Bengaluru, Karnataka government, Gruha Jyoti scheme, free power scheme, Indian Express, India news, current affairs

In addition to this, arrears of 70 paise per unit pertaining to April will also be added to the bills in June. Consequently, the FPPCA charge of Rs 1.49 per unit will also be levied in June and Rs 1.81 per unit is carried forward to July.

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Ahead of the start of the Gruha Jyoti scheme on June 18, power consumers in Karnataka have received unusually high bills as the electricity regulatory commission has approved a 70-paise tariff rise and allowed fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges to be levied from July to December.

Many have seen an unusual spike in electricity bills received in June despite having continued the same consumption pattern as in previous months. Some saw a 21 per cent jump and others a spike of over 60 per cent in their electricity bills. The government has deferred the registration process for the Gruha Jyoti scheme—which offers free electricity of up to 200 units—from June 15 to June 18 citing technical reasons.

Kiran Ambekar, a resident of Hubballi, was shocked to see his May bill jump to Rs 5,000, almost three times of what he paid last time. “I was totally upset to see the bill jumping to Rs 5,000 this month. I used to pay Rs 1,500 on an average every month. Even considering that our consumption has gone up in May because of AC use, Rs 5,000 is unusually high. We expected that the government would play some trick ahead of launching the free electricity scheme. And that is how it is turning out to be,” said Ambekar.

Chitralekha A, a resident of Bengaluru, was shocked to see her bill go up to Rs 4,440, when she has always paid anywhere between Rs 700 and Rs 800 on an average. “My monthly average consumption ranges between 80 and 100 units. My bill does not even cross Rs 800. But this time the bill is close to Rs 5,000, which is very unfair,” she said.

Meanwhile, suspense continues for many who have not received their electricity bills even after June 9 and 10. Raghavendra S, a resident of Thalaghattapura in Bengaluru, said, “I used to receive the electricity bill on the 9th of every month. But the suspense over the bill is really worrying, raising a question about what the department is up to. We are also worried that we may receive inflated bills with new tariffs and arrears. Whether this is an after-effect of the new government’s freebie circus or the old government’s farewell jolt, we need to wait.”

Electricity has got costlier after the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission approved electricity supply companies’ proposals that as per a May 12 tariff order, a hike of 70 paise per unit has to be levied in June. In addition to this, arrears of 70 paise per unit pertaining to April will also be added to the bills in June. Consequently, the FPPCA charge of Rs 1.49 per unit will also be levied in June and Rs 1.81 per unit is carried forward to July. Thus, there will be an overall increase in tariff for June by Rs 2.89/ unit.

A Bescom official told The Indian Express, “There is no doubt that consumers will be receiving high bills. This is partly because of a tariff hike and the consequent arrears attached to it, plus the increase in fixed charges to Rs 110 from Rs 100 for 1KW. A consumer paying Rs 700 per month on an average will now end up paying Rs 500-Rs 600 extra for June.”

“The bills are delayed because they are being prepared as per the revised tariff and also because of the work related to the free electricity scheme.”