UditVani, Jamshedpur : At the public hearing held in Ranchi on the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) petition of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL), the President of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Manav Kedia, strongly opposed the proposed 59% tariff hike.
He termed the reported 28% distribution loss as unacceptable and asserted that inefficiency and managerial failures cannot be passed on to industries and consumers.
In his address, Kedia illustrated his point with clear analogies. He stated that just as a student who fails to perform satisfactorily in previous and current classes cannot expect promotion to the next grade, no institution should claim additional demands or “upgradation” without demonstrating improved performance.
Similarly, a cricketer who does not deliver strong performances in domestic tournaments cannot aspire to secure a place in the IPL or the Indian national team.
He emphasized that JBVNL has failed to meet its targets in previous years and has not succeeded in reducing distribution losses; therefore, proposing a steep tariff increase based on such underperformance is unjustified.
The Chamber questioned the claimed increase in power purchase costs, pointing out that references were made to a 5% hike by NTPC and DVC despite coal prices remaining stable or declining.
It demanded that JBVNL make public the year-wise details of actual tariffs over the past three years and opposed transferring the burden of flexibilization costs onto industries.
Highlighting the increase in intra-state transmission charges by JUSNL and the cited 6–8% cost escalation, SCCI described these as outcomes of systemic inefficiency.
It argued that while efforts are underway to reduce losses under the RDSS scheme, imposing the burden of past inefficiencies on industries is unfair and counterproductive.
On the issue of the ACOS-ABR gap and regulatory assets, the Chamber advocated for a phased and balanced resolution instead of sudden and steep tariff revisions. It stressed that the inability to achieve MYT targets cannot be directly shifted onto consumers.
SCCI further warned that the proposed electricity tariff hike would impose a severe financial strain on industries and commercial establishments, especially at a time when businesses are already grappling with rising raw material costs and challenging market conditions.
The proposed increase of nearly 50 % in energy charges and 25 % in fixed charges was termed excessive and disproportionate.
Drawing attention to the adverse impact on Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub, the Chamber cautioned that a 15–20% rise in production costs could negatively affect employment, investment inflows, and the state’s industrial competitiveness.
It emphasized that industrial growth, job creation, and overall economic balance in the state must be carefully considered before any final decision.
In conclusion, SCCI expressed hope that the concerns of the industrial community would be given serious consideration and that a balanced, industry-friendly tariff structure would be ensured before the final determination.
The trade body urged the Commission to reject the proposed tariff hike and direct JBVNL to first bring T&D losses down to the national benchmark of 15–18% and present a clear roadmap for operational reforms.
The SCCI delegation at the hearing also included General Secretary Puneet Kauntia, Vice President Harsh Bankrewal, and Secretary Vinod Sharma. ( W-pm)
