Power tariff hike an issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Just a few days into office, the Oommen Chandy Government has to confront the extremely touchy issue of power tariff hike with the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission asking the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to file proposals to fill a revenue gap of Rs 887.81 crore.In a 112-page order on the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) and Expected Revenue from Charges (ERC) petition filed by the KSEB, the Regulatory Commission whittled down the KSEB's revenue gap projection of Rs 2208.31 crore for the 2011-2012 fiscal to Rs 887.81 crore. The Commission has fixed the ARR as Rs 6512.73 crore against the KSEB projection of Rs 7815.77 crore and the ERC as Rs 5607.46 crore against the KSEB projection of Rs 5624.92 crore. The Commission has also asked the KSEB to file ''suitable proposals for bridging the approved revenue gap for the year 2011-12 without delay.''