Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 3: In the election year, the Jammu Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) has proposed no tariff hike for its various consumer categories in Jammu and Kashmir for the next financial years.
However, at the same time, a steep hike has been proposed for various miscellaneous charges like changing Meter, new connection, fuse off replacement, transfer of name etc besides introduction of kVAh tariff in energy charges only for connected loads above 20 kW in metered connections for better management of reactive power at all voltage levels.
These proposals have been admitted by the Jammu and Kashmir State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JKSERC), which has directed the JKPDD to invite objections and comments from various stakeholders.
Purposing no tariff hike for financial year 2014-15 and retaining the same as approved by the Regulatory Commission for the year 2013-14 for various consumer categories in J&K, the PDD has submitted that it shall concentrate on consumer metering, enforcement and loss containment during the period.
The PDD has also proposed some measures for Demand Side Management (DSM) and Energy Conservation.
These measures include introduction of kVAh tariff in energy charges only for connected loads above 20 kW in consumer categories of non-domestic/commercial, Agriculture, Government departments, LT Industrial Power Supply and LT Water works.
According to JKPDD, the rationale behind introduction of kVAh tariff is to encourage consumers to initiate on their own the step to improve the power factor. The kWh and kVAh tariff are proposed to be introduced in energy charges only and kept at par with each other so that at unity power factor, there is no disparity in the charges paid by the consumers in the same category for same consumption, the JKPDD has submitted.
As a step towards Demand Side Management (DSM), the PDD has proposed on spot imposition of fine in case Incandescent Lamps are found in use in any new building of Government, Public Sector, autonomous bodies, commercial establishment etc. A fine of Rs 500 for each Incandescent Lamp upto 200 watt and Rs 1000 for Incandescent Lap above 200 watt has been proposed.
Further, in modification of flat rate tariff slab of unmetered domestic category (above 1 kW-upto 2 kW), the JKPDD has proposed Rs 140 for every additional ¼ kW on part thereof above 1kW for the next year.
Besides, the JKPDD has purposed revision in the miscellaneous charges, which have not been revised for the last many years despite a steep hike in the cost of material, labour and services.
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