Sweltering Delhi will now have to pay 8.32% more for power

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a power tariff hike across the capital even as the Aam Aadmi Party continues to demand the lowering of tariffs. A power charge hike of 8.32 percent will be implemented across Delhi. Meanwhile all areas that come under NDMC will see a hike of 9.52 percent. [caption id=“attachment_1622801” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Electricity up to 200 units will be hiked by 10 paise, the 200-400 slab will see an increase of 15 paise and the 400-800 slab will see hike of 50 paise/unit, according to ANI News. PD Sudhakar, Chairman, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission said, “The power crisis in Delhi has led to the increase in power tariffs. The effect of the power tariff hike will be minimal on the domestic consumers.” Sudhakar added that, “We will get power from an ‘ultra-mega power project’ in Madhya Pradesh.” This announcement comes a day after Delhi’sdaily  power demand had soared to its highest so far - 5,925 MW as temperatures have begun soaring in the city. AAP, which ran its successful state election campaign almost entirely on the issue of the high prices of bijli-paani, had demanded on 14 July that the central government should reduce both electricity and water tariffs in the interim budget of the National Capital Territory (NCT). “The AAP appeals to the central government to honour the sentiments of the overwhelming majority in the Delhi assembly while presenting the state’s budget in Parliament, and it should reduce the electricity tariffs by 50 per cent and provide 700 litres of water free for every household,” Arvind Kejriwal’s party had said in a statement. With agency imputs