Udupi: Condemning the price hike on the electricity charges by 80 paisa per unit the Udupi district Bharatiya Kissan Sangh launched a campaign agitating over the issue on Thursday, January 15.

Sathyanarayana Udupa – general secretary, on the occasion said that, Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (MESCOM) has sent a proposal on January 1 stating that Karnataka Power Commission   should initiate a price hike of 80 paisa per unit. However they have asked to have a public opinion on or before January 30, with regards to the implementation.

MESCOM has 19.9 lakh consumers, who consume around 4037.56 units of power. The revenue target for MESCOM is around 2003.88 crore and has reached the target of 1957.27 crore. MESCOM has recorded 97.67 percent achievement.

He added that MESCOM has the minimal loss; still MESCOM has trying to misguide the Power Commission and has demanded the permission to hike the power tariff.

As per the balance sheet submitted to Power Commission 2014, MESCOM has incurred the loss of 50.99 crore. In 2015, up-to-date it is 159.81 crore and during 2016 it is estimated to be around 357.30 crore. The balance sheet also shows that the Company had an profit of 12.59 crore in the 2013 fiscal year and 20.17 lakh profit for the 2014 fiscal year.
 
He alleged that although the meters are attached to the most of the farmers pump set, the prices are charged based on the estimation. He also added UPCL charged Rs 4.79 per unit in 2014, while it is receiving the tariff of RS 6.40 per unit in 2015 and Rs 4.29 per unit in 2016, approximately, he explained.

They demanded to withdraw the proposed price hike.