AGARTALA, November 22 (TIWN): Chairman of Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission N. Chakraborty while speaking to the media persons at Bhutoria, Vidyut Bhavan today said that in exercise of power vested under Section 62(1)(a) and Section 64 (3)(a) of Electricity Act, 2003 and Tariff Regulation 2004, the commission, after thorough examination of Tariff Petition and other records, public opinion and considering the interest of Consumers as well as Licensee (TSECL), passes the Tariff order for the FY 2014-15 by increasing 14.76% (Average per Unit) w. r. t. existing tariff.

But Govt. of Tripura has committed to provide Rs. 40.00 Cr. Subsidy to specific consumers at different rates and accordingly Average Tariff has come to 5.69% rise.

Thus, Before Subsidy Average Tariff is Rs. 6.50/kwh and after subsidy average tariff is Rs. 5.99/kwh. Tariff order will be effective from 1^st November, 2014, he mentioned.

Reasons for increasing Tariff for the FY 2014-15 are given below:

1.Due to increase of Natural Gas Price in National/International level.

2.Due to increase of Power Purchase Cost from outside Central Sector Project.

3.Due to increase of Operational and Maintenance cost.      

Palatana OTPC project has already disappointed many citizens of the state after its successful installation, despite the glorious inauguration of the project been made by President Pranab Mukherjee back on June, 2013. Already the people of the state are suffering from loadshading and various other power related issues. But then also the state government is increasing the power tariff.

It is to be mentioned here that a separate regional delegation of the Power Grid and few officials from the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) along with Bangladeshi delegation and Indian delegation visited OTPC 726.6 combined cycle thermal power plant and they also visited the Suryamaninagar sub-station in West Tripura district. The newly constructed Suryamaninagar sub-station in West Tripura district was erected with installed capacities for international power trading. The sub-station was constructed with provisions for two bay areas’s to make the transmission compatible with Central Transmission Unit (CTU). All expenses would be borne by the PGCIL   Government of India.400 KV Power transmission lines would be extended till South Comilla in Bangladesh, an official said adding that132 KV power load would be thrown in the line.