Tamil Nadu hikes power tariff by 4.83%: Opposition slams Stalin govt, demands rollback

Under the revised tariff structure, domestic consumers will see increases ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 40 across different categories, as outlined by TANGEDCO.

Tamil Nadu's state-owned electricity distribution company, TANGEDCO, has increased the power tariff by 4.83 percent for domestic, commercial, and industrial users effective from July 1. Key opposition parties, including the Pattali Makkal Katchi and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, have, however, slammed the government for the tariff revision.

Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami accused the DMK of imposing the tariff revision as a consequence of its perceived "arrogance" following the party's landslide victory in Lok Sabha elections, where their alliance secured all 39 seats in the state. He alleged that whenever the DMK came to power in the state, power cuts and increases in power tariffs were frequent occurrences.

The former chief minister also pointed out that this was the third such revision implemented after the DMK assumed power in 2021. He also highlighted increases in property tax, water tax, and milk prices during this period. Palaniswami slammed the government, stating, "It is unjust to burden people with the consequences of administrative inefficiency," and called for an immediate rollback of the recent tariff hike.

BJP state president K Annamalai also slammed the government over the tariff hike. He claimed that the government was spending excessively on purchasing power while showing little interest in power generation initiatives, which led to the increased tariffs.

Annamalai also targeted CM Stalin, accusing him of failing to deliver on his party's promise of monthly calculation of power usage. He called for a rollback of the tariff hike and urged the government to focus on increasing electricity generation, including expanding solar power initiatives.

The latest tariff revision follows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation-linked tariff revision approved by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) in 2022 for FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27. As per the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation's statement, the TNERC has implemented a "minor" adjustment.

Under the revised tariff structure, domestic consumers will see increases ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 40 across different categories, as outlined by the discom.

Key benefits such as free electricity up to 100 units and subsidies for sectors like handlooms, agriculture, and places of worship will remain unchanged.

With inputs from agencies