In Chennai, maintenance charges will increase in flats, apartments etc - Tough situation for the residents!!
Posted on: 21/Jul/2022 9:49:48 AM
Recently, Tangedco took many by surprise when it created a new tariff category for common service at a charge of Rs 8 per unit and fixed charge of Rs 100 per kilowatt per month. This would be affecting many people who live in the apartments in Chennai. It must be noted that the maintenance charges would become more for these persons living in flats etc.
On Monday, Mr. Senthil Balaji, minister for electricity mentioned that to avoid duplication of tariff subsidy a separate tariff for low tension 1-D would be introduced for command supply for lighting, lift and water supply. Under the common supply tariffs, there would be gyms, swimming pools plus sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, fire hydrant system belonging to the residential complexes.
It was later brought to light by a resident from Porur in Chennai that there are 6 residential units in his flat and if these units consume 200 to 250 units of power supply for common lighting and water pump etc then the electric charge would vary from Rs 150 to Rs 380. He added that an amount of Rs 1800 would be spent for consuming even 100 units at Rs 8 per unit plus fixed charges of Rs 200 for 2 months.
From the present Rs 500 per month as maintenance charge, the residents would be forced to pay maintenance charges of Rs 750 to Rs 1000 per month.
Secretary of T. Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Mr. Kannan Balachandran explained that the residents of multi-storeyed complex expected the common supply tariff to be on the lower side only than the commercial tariffs.
Middle class and salaried persons who have been living in the flats in Chennai and in the suburbs would be affected by the common supply tariff. This would be due to the increased maintenance cost plus due to the hike in the residential electricity charges etc. He wanted the state government to reconsider the tariff hike.
Mr. S. Neelakanta Pillai, founder of Citizens Contribution in Democracy spoke about how it was a blunder on the part of TNERC to give permission to the collection of commercial charges in its 2017 order for common supply from multi-storeyed residential complexes etc. Point is that the residents have been using it for domestic purposes only. The shocking information is that Tangedco has classified all the flats with common service connection under the new higher tariff category.
