Power Tariff Hike: People were troubled by the shortage and rising prices of gas and oil due to the US-Iran war. However, at present there has been some relief from this. But now the rising prices of electricity bills have given sleepless nights to the common people. The month of May is going to start with a big shock for the common people. There are reports that electricity bills are going to increase in Bangalore from May 1.

Decision for financial stability
Electricity consumers in Bengaluru will have to pay extra 56 paise per unit of electricity bill from May 1. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has increased the prices of electricity bills. This increase has happened after the approval of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory (KERC). This will provide financial stability to power distribution companies.

Why did prices increase?
These new prices have been implemented to recover from the loss of tariff ‘true-up’ process revenue. Which was approximately Rs 2,068 crore in the financial year 2024-25. The additional charges will be levied on a monthly basis during 2024-27 and will be reflected in your electricity bill after the first meter reading in May. This is going to have a significant impact on the pockets of common consumers.

stated in the order
This order states, ‘BESCOM will calculate the amount to be recovered on the basis of actual energy consumption during the financial year 2024-25 for every active consumer of the financial year 2024-25. This amount will be recovered in equal monthly installments during the financial year 2026-27, which will be called the actual fee for FY 25. This recovery will start from the first meter reading date falling on or after May 1, 2026 and will continue till the reading ends on April 30, 2027.

However, resentment is also being seen among the general public due to this decision. Many consumers say that the increase in electricity bills, already in the era of inflation, will put a burden on the household budget. This increase can be a cause of concern especially for middle class families.