Coal news and updates

Power ministry seeks to continue with subsidised BPL tariffs

November 27: The Ministry of Power (MoP) plans to continue with the subsidised tariff for below-poverty-line (BPL) consumers who consume below a specified level, and will not review the same after five years, as was provisioned earlier.

This is part of the proposals put forward by the ministry for amendments in the power tariff policy. The proposals are currently being circulated among various stakeholders for comments by December 6.

As per the existing provisions, "BPL consumers who consume below 30 units per month may receive a special support through cross-subsidy. Tariffs for such designated group of consumers will be at least 50% of the average cost of supply."

This provision was earlier decided to be re-examined after five years, but the amended policy has done away with the same.