Industry laments increase in electricity tariffs
Industry organizations are against the HP Electricity Regulatory Commission’s planned increase in the electricity rate of Re 1 per unit, calling it “salt in the wounds” for an already wounded industry.
The groups claim that the state no longer has the benefit of having lower electricity, which was formerly its unique selling point to attract investment, and now labels the power rate as the highest in the area.
The implementation of new taxes such as the new Goods Tax (AGT), the highest power charge rate in the nation, and increased transportation costs as a result of cartelization are causing a difficult time for the industry in Himachal Pradesh. The shock of the Re 1 per unit increase in electricity tariffs has now compounded the damage, according to Rajiv Aggarwal, head of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association.
“Every year power tariff for Industry has been observed to be increasing for the last three years, but this year’s increase is exceptionally high, which has not been observed in the last ten years,” he said.
Even though the government is now covering the increase, the industry will eventually be responsible for paying for it.
According to Aggarwal, this rise would have a negative effect on the state’s recent industrial progress.
The group, which represents businesses from the largest industrial cluster in the state, said that the BBNIA was anticipating the whole tariff order and planned to contest it.
