Shillong, Oct 31: Even as the new electricity tariff – increase for domestic consumers and decrease for industries – is going to be reflected in power bills from December 2024, the state government has assured to comprehensively review the new tariff fixed by the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (MSERC).
The MSERC, led by newly-appointed chairman Chandan Kumar Mondol, issued a revised electricity tariff recently, lowering rates for industrial High Tension (HT) consumers while raising that of Low Tension (LT) or domestic consumers, causing serious concern among the latter.
However, power minister AT Mondal said the government would review the rates comprehensively keeping in view the industrial and domestic requirements.
“Some relief was given to industries to encourage investment, but we will assess this situation comprehensively,” Mondal told reporters on Wednesday.
Earlier, MSERC ordered that the revised rates be reflected in billing for all categories of consumers starting December 2024.
As per the new tariff, effective October 28, domestic consumers face an increased fixed charge of ₹90 per kilowatt per month. Energy rates for households are set at ₹5.55 per kilowatt for the first 100 units and ₹5.65 for the next 100 units. The previous tariff under then-chairman Peter W Ingty had a fixed charge of ₹80 per kilowatt, with energy costs for the first 100 units at ₹4 per kilowatt.
On the other hand, the HT (industrial) consumers will benefit from reduced energy charges, with a fixed charge of ₹310 per kilowatt per month and an energy charge of ₹6.51 per kilowatt. During 2023-24, this charge was ₹7.80 per kilowatt.
Asked about the increase in household rates, the minister said, “See, everywhere the rate is reviewed almost on an annual basis. It depends on how the regulatory commission has evaluated the situation, and we will also review it from our side.”
