In the current year, only 20 percent consumers have been asked to shell out additional security deposit, the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Co Ltd (CSPDCL) clarified on Tuesday.
Commenting on the hike in electricity bill, CSPDCL Managing Director Manoj Khare said this was revised every October, based on the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Supply Code-2011 issued by the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC).
There is a provision to revise the security deposit on the basis of the average consumption of the last 12 months.
If there is an increase in average consumption in a year, then the bills are issued by adding the amount to the security fund. This is in addition to the already deposited security fund in the electricity bills of November, he said.
It is a prescribed process going on since the time of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board (MPEB).
If the average consumption is less, then it is returned to the consumers in the subsequent bills. Interest is also paid by the company on the security fund of the consumers every year in April.
He added that during Covid-19 pandemic no hike was done, instead a 50 percent discount was given. As the pandemic is over, it has been revised. Similarly, a hike was due to an increase in Variable Cost Adjustment (VCA).
