Power bills likely to go up by ₹1 per unit in Odisha

ELECTRICITY consumers may face a sharp increase in their power bills next year with power utilities seeking retail tariff hikes that could push the prices up by nearly ₹1 per unit.

- BIJOY PRADHAN @ Bhubaneswar

After GRIDCO sought a hike of 58 paise unit in bulk supply price, six other power sector entities barring Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) have made a strong pitch for increase in their respective tariffs citing serious revenue shortfall.

Acceptance of all proposals would result in an average hike of 98 paise per unit in retail electricity tariff which would ultimately be passed on to the consumers. The seven power entities have projected a cumulative revenue shortfall of ₹3,276 crore in the next financial year if the tariff approved by the Odisha