In good news for electricity consumers in Haryana, they will continue to pay the existing electricity rates in the next financial year starting April 1.
Going into poll mode, Haryana government owned power distribution companies — the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN), had prayed before the power regulator to allow the existing levels of electricity tariff and charges to be continued in 2023-24 financial year. The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), which is responsible for the regulation of power sector and fixing electricity tariff in the state, seems to have played along. The regulator, in its February 15 order on retail supply tariff for 2023-24, accepted the no-escalation plea of the state-owned power distribution companies (discoms) despite the fact that the two companies projected a revenue deficit of ₹397.36 crore at the existing tariff. The regulator allowed the discoms’ plea of no escalation in power tariff by accepting their argument of bridging the ₹397.36 crore revenue gap by way of efficiency gains.