October 28: The Electricity Regulatory Commission has determined new power tariff taking into consideration the welfare of the poor and low income class.

The newly determined tariff, however, would been implemented only from mid-December, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. The new tariff of electricity will be based on the consumption of electricity in the month of Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). So, the consumers will have to pay the new tariff in the bill of the next month.    

The household consumers from poor community would not be imposed electricity tariff for five to 20 units, but a minimum amount of Rs 30 would be charge instead, according to chief commissioner Dilli Bahadur Singh. He said that the tariff for the household class was slashed by an average of 2.8 per cent in a bid to increase the household use of electricity and ensure appropriate price of power.    
Speaking at a news conference organized on Wednesday (October 28), Singh shared that the new power tariff was determined after a detailed study, discussion, analysis, public hearing, and consultation with stakeholders and their inputs.

The number of electricity consumers in the country currently stands at 4.9 million while there are 1.9 million consumers who consume less than 20 units of electricity.    
According to the Commission, the minimum charges for households consuming 151 to 250 units of electricity per month using using five ampere, 15 ampere and 30 ampere under single phase have been determined at Rs 100, Rs 125 and Rs 150 respectively. It is Rs 25 less that the existing rate.    
Similarly, households consuming electricity of more than 400 units per month from single phase supply using five ampere, 15 ampere, 30 ampere and 60 ampere will have to pay Rs 150, Rs 175, Rs 200 and Rs 250 respectively.