Central government's Electricity Amendment Rules should not be implemented in Tamil Nadu
Ramadoss, the founder of PMK, has insisted that the central government's electricity reform rules should not be implemented in tamil Nadu. In a statement issued today in this regard, he said, "We are concerned about the effects of the amendments made in the electricity (Consumer Rights) Rules brought by the central government and based on it, all of them have started to come into effect.
In the first phase, the central government has announced that from april 2024, electricity connections for commercial use and from april 2025 for electricity connections for homes will have to charge extra for high electricity usage hours. This move is a huge injustice as it continues a severe economic attack on the poor and middle class.
The tamil Nadu electricity Regulatory Commission has already declared 5 hours between 6 am and 10 pm as peak electricity consumption time in tamil Nadu. As per the amendments made in the electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, the electricity used during these hours will be charged 25% more than the regular rate. Similarly, it has been announced that 5 percent less fee will be charged for the 7 hours between 10 pm to 5 am, which is the time when there is no high electricity usage.
All electrical appliances will be used only between 6 AM to 10 AM and 6 PM to 10 PM. Leaving for office, using entertainment devices including television after returning home from office takes place only during this time. central government rules state that surcharges are levied only to reduce electricity usage during peak usage hours. It is impractical. How is it possible to get ready for office before 5 am or use entertainment devices after 10 pm to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours?
70% of the total household electricity consumption takes place in the 10 hours between 6 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 10 pm. Even 10% - 5% of electricity is not used during the 7 hour off-peak period of 10 pm to 5 am. Regular electricity charges will be charged between 10 am to 5 pm.
How is it fair to offer 5% tariff concession for 10% electricity usage and charge 25% extra for 70% electricity usage? This would mean an overall 25% hike in electricity tariffs. It is ironic that this act of squeezing consumers has been named the electricity Consumer Rights Act. This cannot be accepted.
In many states including tamil Nadu, the public and the industry have not been able to recover from the recent hike in electricity tariffs. In such an environment, implementation of indirect tariff hike for 70% of electricity consumption will create an unbearable economic burden on the poor and middle class. Even the industry cannot handle this. Considering all these, I urge the central government to abandon the amendment of the rules to charge extra charges for high electricity usage hours.
The tamil Nadu government should also urge the central government to withdraw the amendment to the electricity rules that affect the people. Apart from that, Central Government's electricity Rules Amendment should not be implemented in tamil Nadu; I also request the tamil Nadu government not to increase the additional electricity charges."
In the first phase, the central government has announced that from april 2024, electricity connections for commercial use and from april 2025 for electricity connections for homes will have to charge extra for high electricity usage hours. This move is a huge injustice as it continues a severe economic attack on the poor and middle class.
The tamil Nadu electricity Regulatory Commission has already declared 5 hours between 6 am and 10 pm as peak electricity consumption time in tamil Nadu. As per the amendments made in the electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, the electricity used during these hours will be charged 25% more than the regular rate. Similarly, it has been announced that 5 percent less fee will be charged for the 7 hours between 10 pm to 5 am, which is the time when there is no high electricity usage.
All electrical appliances will be used only between 6 AM to 10 AM and 6 PM to 10 PM. Leaving for office, using entertainment devices including television after returning home from office takes place only during this time. central government rules state that surcharges are levied only to reduce electricity usage during peak usage hours. It is impractical. How is it possible to get ready for office before 5 am or use entertainment devices after 10 pm to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours?
70% of the total household electricity consumption takes place in the 10 hours between 6 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 10 pm. Even 10% - 5% of electricity is not used during the 7 hour off-peak period of 10 pm to 5 am. Regular electricity charges will be charged between 10 am to 5 pm.
How is it fair to offer 5% tariff concession for 10% electricity usage and charge 25% extra for 70% electricity usage? This would mean an overall 25% hike in electricity tariffs. It is ironic that this act of squeezing consumers has been named the electricity Consumer Rights Act. This cannot be accepted.
In many states including tamil Nadu, the public and the industry have not been able to recover from the recent hike in electricity tariffs. In such an environment, implementation of indirect tariff hike for 70% of electricity consumption will create an unbearable economic burden on the poor and middle class. Even the industry cannot handle this. Considering all these, I urge the central government to abandon the amendment of the rules to charge extra charges for high electricity usage hours.
The tamil Nadu government should also urge the central government to withdraw the amendment to the electricity rules that affect the people. Apart from that, Central Government's electricity Rules Amendment should not be implemented in tamil Nadu; I also request the tamil Nadu government not to increase the additional electricity charges."