Hyderabad: With speculation of an alleged hike in electricity rates, residents of Hyderabad received positive news on Wednesday as the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) announced that there will be no increase in power tariffs for low-income and middle-class households throughout the state. However, Musharraf Ali Faruqui, chairman and managing director of TGSPDCL, clarified that only those consuming more than 300 units of electricity may face a slight increase in charges.
This announcement was made during a public meeting organised by the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission. Faruqui assured attendees that the financial burden of electricity costs would not be placed on poor and middle-class families, a commitment he reiterated as per a Times of India report.
— TGSPDCL (@tgspdcl) October 24, 2024
Lowered technical & commercial losses
The meeting also showcased some notable achievements within the power sector, including a reduction in distribution losses to 4.75 per cent. Faruqui highlighted the commission’s success in lowering aggregate technical and commercial losses to 19.03 per cent, which has contributed to a decrease in the average cost of supply and average realizable revenue from 1.08 to 0.80.
Significant rise in electricity demand across Telangana: TGSPDCL
On the revenue front, Faruqui reported that TGSPDCL has achieved a revenue rate of 6.45 per unit. He noted that electricity demand in Telangana has risen significantly, reaching 15,623 megawatts. Additionally, he provided an update on the development of the TGSPDCL GIS Asset Inspection and Maintenance System app, which employs advanced technology to enhance transparency in maintenance and repair operations.
During the session, S. Madhusudhana Chary, opposition leader in the legislative council, expressed his concerns regarding the proposed tariff adjustments. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chary urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of the state by absorbing the costs associated with any proposed price hikes through subsidies. He also called on the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) to reject the discoms’ proposal for increasing electricity charges.
