Increase in cross subsidy surchage a death knell:SIMA

COIMBATORE: South India Mills' Association today said steep increase in Cross Subsidy Surchage would sound death knell for HT consumers and sought its immediate rollback.


Referring to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission's Revised Tatriff Order, SIMA chairman, S Dinakaran said HT industries, subjected to 40 per cent power cut and four hours evening peak hour restrictions, have been demanding for equal distribution of power shortage to sustain their survival, which has not been considered by TANGEDCO.

Such an uncompetitive power scenario will not only discourage new investments in the state but also would lead to large-scale migration of the existing manufacturing facilities to other States like Gujarat and Maharashtra, which have industry friendly textile policy, Dinakaran claimed.

He appealed to the commission to roll back CSS for HT consumers, ranging between Rs.1.66 to Rs.2.07, which is increased to Rs.3.40 to Rs.3.61 per unit depending upon the voltage for HT industries and requested not to levy CSS as long as the restriction and control measures were in vogue.

Dinakaran welcomed the order with regard to reduction of wheeling charges from 23.27 paise to 17.35 paise per unit and in respect of wind mill energy it has been reduced to 9.31 paise to 6.94 paise per unit, which worked out to 40 per cent and beneficial to such consumers.

He also welcomed the decision directing the industry to furnish necessary data to enable it consider the textile industry's demand for a separate tariff considering the higher load factory being maintained by it through the year.

Dinakaran also appealed to the chief minister to announce an industry-friendly policy to have win-win stragegy for both TANGEDCO and HT Consumers, particularly textile industry.