Price of electricity in rural Bengal may go up

KOLKATA: The revision in coal prices by Coal India Ltd may lead to an increase in electricity tariffs in rural Bengal.

"The revision of coal price may impact the rural customers by 35-45 paise a unit in state-owned distribution areas. The current average unit price is Rs 6.11," a senior officer of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company said.

The impact is likely to take place from June and is expected to be reflected from the next month.

However, CESC consumers in Kolkata and Howrah may be impacted marginally as the power utility uses higher grade coal for its plants.

CIL increased the coal price by 10 per cent on an average for lower grades of coal. Most of the power plants consume lower grade coal, except the few older plants that use higher calorific coal.

Coal India had reduced price of coal by 12 per cent for premium grades of 2 and 4.

CESC officials did not give any clear indication of coal price impact on tariffs.