By: Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 22: The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has officially introduced Time-of-Day (ToD) tariff electricity billing across Jammu and Kashmir for all categories except for the agricultural consumers.
JERC however clarified that the ToD tariff is applicable in addition to energy charges for all consumers except agriculture having a sanctioned load of more than 10 kW.
JERC order establishes an eight-hour peak window carrying a 10% surcharge for residential users and a matching eight-hour daytime window offering a 20% rebate.
The official documents of JERC in this regard said, “ToD tariff is applicable in addition to energy charges for all consumers except Agriculture having a sanctioned load of more than 10 kW.”
JERC said that for the implementation of the ToD tariff, peak hours will be considered as 6Am to 9Am and 5Pm to 10Pm, a total eight hours duration in a day and solar hours will be 9Am to 5Pm , an eight hours duration in a day.
“During peak hours a 20 percent surcharge on energy charges will be applicable for industrial (LTIS, HT industry HT PIU) and commercial (LT non-domestic consumers and general-purpose bulk supply). For all other consumer categories, a 10 percent surcharge during peak hours will be applicable. During solar hours a 20 percent rebate on energy charges will be applicable for all categories,” JERC said.
It also said that the remaining hours not covered under peak hours or solar hours shall be treated as normal hours and shall be billed at the normal energy charge without any ToD surcharge or rebate
The Commission said that the petitioners (JPDCL & KPDCL) had proposed to modify the existing ToD tariff with certain modifications.
The Commission observes that MoP, GoI under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) has recommended that the ToD tariff during peak hours would be 20 percent and 10 percent respectively higher than a normal period tariff.
“The surcharge is continued as 20 percent and 10 percent respectively for industrial & commercial consumers and other consumers, respectively. The rebate of 20 percent is applicable for solar hours,” reads the documents.
“The Commission decides that ToD tariff shall be applicable to all consumers, except agricultural consumers, having sanctioned load/contract demand above 10 kW, subject to availability of compatible metering and billing infrastructure,” JERC said
Pertinently, KPDCL had proposed a ToD tariff for the peak morning and evening hours.
KPDCL in a petition filed before the regulatory authority JERC had proposed a 20 percent hike in ToD tariff during peak hours for all domestic and commercial consumers.
The proposal however had excluded the agriculture sector in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Power (MoP). (KNO)
