MADURAI:The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has submitted a memorandum to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission ( TNERC ) at the public hearing held in Madurai on August 18th 2022 urging it to roll back the proposed hike in fixed and peak hour charges and also drop the idea of hiking power tariff every year in the interest and survival of trade and industry especially the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
Dr.N.Jegatheesan, president of TN Chamber, who attended the public hearing yesterday had made a request to the TNERC to consider the plight of trade and industry and more particularly the MSMEs in the State and opt for reverting back the abnormal fixed demand charges and the hike in electricity tariff. This public hearing was held on the proposed tariff revision petition filed by TANGEDCO, transmission corporation and State load despatch centre.
“The power tariff hike will drive away trade and industry from our State. Levy of peak hour charges should be dropped. There are several small businesses that function only in the evening hours. Already petroleum products’ rate increase had pushed trade and industry into crisis, and if the power charges too ate increased it will be a huge blow and create negative impact for MSMEs. With higher fixed charges and peak hour charges, the manufacturing units will find it unviable to operate if the proposed EB charges come into effect. And, no new investment will take place in our State in respect of industries operating on a single shift basis,” the TN Chamber president Dr.Jegatheesan has pointed out in the memorandum submitted to TNERC at public hearing in Madurai.
