Ferro alloys industry in AP against the proposed power tariff hike

Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd
(APEPDCL) is proposing a 35 per cent hike in power tariff for the coming year.

In wake of the proposed power tariff hike, representative of
ferro alloys industry in AP expressed their disagreement & said that the
power hike will be a death knell for the power-intensive ferro-alloys industry
in Andhra Pradesh and the industry just cannot take it anymore.

Sridhar Prabhu an industry representative who was speaking
at a public hearing conducted by the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission
(APERC) said the State was known for its ferro-alloy units and most of them are
on the brink of closure as the power tariff is already high. We cannot absorb
any more hike as power is our most critical input.”

B.S.S Narayana, representing Synergy Castings, a 100 per
cent export-oriented unit manufacturing aluminium alloy wheels here, said “In
fact, at times, during the last year we paid as much as Rs 26 per unit
inclusive of penalties. The penalties were imposed for overdrawing power during
the peak hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. How can a process industry like ours stop
production during those hours and how can we meet our export commitments in
such a situation?”

Several others representing the agricultural sector,
domestic consumers and the trade also spoke against the hike during the hearing.

Sourced