Steep hike in fixed power charges may hit small biz hard
Chennai: Small businesses say they may end up paying up to 10 times more for power supply if Tangedco’s tariff hike goes through as it is. They are upset with the proposal to introduce peak hour energy consumption charges, also known as ToD (Time of Day) charges, for all customers of low tension (LT) supply, except domestic consumers.
Tangedco has proposed that LT tariff categories II B(1), II B (2), III B and V will be charged 25 per cent extra on the energy consumed from 6.30 am to 10.30 am and 6 pm to 10 pm. ToD meters will calculate the energy consumed in five different slots of the day. Apart from these, categories such as I C, I D, II C, IIIA, III B, V and VI will get fixed charges on the basis of contracted demand.
Private education institutions and their hostels fall under II B (2) category in which the charges per unit are to go up from `7.50 to `8.50. Also, the fixed charges for such connections, which is `60 per kilowatt irrespective of the contracted load, have been revised under three slabs.
