Power consumers may need to take a hike

BANGALORE: Just as electricity consumers in the state are dreading another power tariff hike, the state electricity regulatory commission has started its preliminary examination of the ESCOMs' request for a tariff hike of 88 paise per unit.
Earlier last month, all ESCOMs citing cost escalation owing largely to the high cost power being bought by the state filed a tariff petition with the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) for the hike.Speaking to Express, KERC chairman M R Srinivasmurthy said, "The commission has started the preliminary examination of the tariff petition, which will be completed in a few days. In the process, the commission will examine what the ESCOMs have proposed and contemplate to what extent the demands are justified."