Cheap Electricity In Neighbouring States To Hurt Investment In Himachal

Himachal This Week, Shimla

The industrialists will now get cheaper electricity in Punjab and Haryana as compared to Himachal Pradesh. Punjab has set the electricity rates at Rs. 5 per unit for five years for industries while Haryana has decided to keep it at Rs. 4.98 per unit for industrialists in the state. In such a situation who will come to invest or remain here in Himachal where electricity is available at Rs. 5.70 per unit for industrialists.

To add to the woes, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has demanded to increased it in the proposed demand draft submitted to Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC). However a final decision in this regard will be taken by HPERC, but Himachal could face negative attitude of investors with regard to electricity tariffs here. In fact it will emerge as the biggest challenge for Jai Ram Thakur government, as industrialists have clearly said that they are getting cheaper electricity in Punjab and Haryana. This could hurt investment plans of Himachal Pradesh.

Notably, Punjab has fixed electricity rates at Rs. 5 per unit for industrialists for five years, demand charges on which will be applicable separately. However demand charges there in Punjab are less as compared to here in Himachal. So industrialists will get electricity at about the same rate as they are getting in Himachal. Haryana has taken a lead in this direction by offering industrialists electricity at the rate of Rs. 4.98 per unit. Haryana government is ready to give Rs. 2 subsidy also to small industries. It will reduce the electricity rates further for small industrialists. Earlier Himachal Pradesh had special industrial package to lure industrialists, but now that too is not in effect here.

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