The public hearing held by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Wednesday regarding the proposed tariff increase by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) witnessed strong opposition from various civic activists, trade bodies, and industry representatives. These groups raised concerns about the proposed hike, which they believe lacks sufficient justification.
CESC filed a petition before KERC, requesting an increase in power rates by 68 paise per unit for 2025-26, Rs 1.03 per unit for 2026-27, and Rs 1.23 per unit for 2027-28 across all categories of consumers. The hearing was attended by a broad range of stakeholders, including industrialists, farmers, MSMEs, and members from organizations like the Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mysore Industries’ Association, Hebbal Industrial Estate Manufacturing Association, Karnataka Small Scale Industries’ Association, and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha. These groups strongly opposed the proposed increase and urged KERC to reject the tariff hike, citing concerns over existing revenue deficits.
The hearing, chaired by KERC Chairman P Ravi Kumar, with members HK Jagadeesh and Javaid Akhtar, offered a platform for various representatives to voice their concerns. Suresh Kumar Jain, representing MSMEs, highlighted the presence of around 26,000 MSMEs in Mysuru district and advocated for the creation of a separate tariff category for them. He also suggested that a more streamlined approach could negate the need for the proposed tariff hike. The chairman advised MSMEs to consider switching to prepaid meters to help reduce costs.
Another key issue raised during the session was CESC’s perceived unapproachability, with many citing frequent absenteeism and poor communication from the utility, which exacerbated consumer dissatisfaction.
In addition to tariff-related issues, non-tariff concerns were also brought to the fore, particularly from residents of Hanur taluk in Chamarajanagar. The commission chairman directed CESC’s managing director, P Sheela, to visit Hanur to address the region’s electricity-related problems, including allegations against the utility’s officials. Shivalinge Prasad, representing Hanur farmers, described the dire situation, emphasizing that despite tariff increases, the quality of service remained subpar. He highlighted issues like outdated power poles and the inaction of authorities in addressing local grievances. Prasad also criticized CESC linemen for prioritizing revenue collection over maintenance work. Additionally, Rajendra, another speaker, raised concerns about widespread corruption within the utility, which he claimed had negatively impacted service quality.
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