Power tariff hike to pinch schools

BANGALORE : Private colleges and schools in the state will now have to cough up on an average 31.25 paise more per unit of energy consumed, well above the average power tariff hike of 27.35 paise per unit for all categories of consumers.
The tariff hike for various slabs of energy consumed by private educational institutions is in the range of 15 paise to 60 paise.However, the hike is unevenly spread across various slabs — it is steep in the case of first and third slabs and marginal in the case of the last slab.
The tariff hike is 55 paise per unit for 0 to 100 units of energy consumed, 60 paise per unit for 201 to 400 units and 15 paise per unit for consumption beyond 400 units. However, there is a reduction of 5 paise per unit in tariff for 101 to 200 units of energy consumed. The hike is certain to hit educational institutions, particularly colleges, given their dependence on power for laboratory and clinical purposes. But schools might end up taking the brunt of the power tariff hike, as the increase is of a very high order for the initial slabs.
A hike in fees is what some schools and colleges are looking at. “The increase in power tariff will affect schools. These expenses will reflect in fees and will have to be recovered from parents. This is not the right move. It is discouraging private participation in education,’’ said Mansoor Ali Khan, member , board of management, Delhi Public School. Dr S Kumar, principal, MS Ramaiah Medical College, expressed similar views. “We will have to work out to what extent the increase in tariff will be. If it is not substantial, the institution will absorb it. But if the power cost goes up by four times, then it will reflect in the fee structure.’’
Defending the hike, KERC chairman MR Sreenivasa Murthy said: “The hike ranges between 15 paise and 60 paise per unit in order to rationalize the tariff in different slabs.’’ The monthly fixed charges for private educational institutions in urban areas, too, have been revised. The increase in the minimum fixed charges is Rs 5, while the hike in fixed charges per kw of power consumed is also Rs 5.
The revised tariff applies to all private educational institutions coming under BBMP limits, municipal corporations and urban local bodies. It came into effect on October 28, the day the KERC pronounced its tariff rates for 2011-12 .