Chennai: Electricity tariffs for all consumer categories in Tamil Nadu were hiked by 3.16% effective from Tuesday (July 1) in line with the consumer price index inflation for April 2025. The state govt, however, will absorb the additional burden on domestic consumers by compensating TNPDCL through additional subsidy, a release said.The govt will absorb the entire hike in tariff for small commercial establishments whose bi-monthly consumption does not exceed 500 units, low-tension industries with a connected load of up to 50kW, cottage and tiny industries, and powerlooms. This will cost an additional expenditure of 519.84 crore for the exchequer. Commercial establishments, however, must pay the revised fixed charges. Apartments and multi-tenements dwellers with more than 12 units and lifts will also feel the pinch as the tariff for common supply services has been hiked from 8.55 per unit to 8.80, while the fixed cost increased from 107 per KW to 110.This is the fourth tariff revision in the state since 2022 as part of the multi-year tariff formula of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC). The state absorbed the hike 100% for domestic consumers for the second time after 2023. Domestic consumers will continue to get the first 100 units of power consumption for free in a bi-monthly cycle and subsidised power for subsequent consumption. Free power supply will continue for agricultural and hut services across the state, the govt announced. Without the subsidy, the base price of electricity for domestic consumers would have increased by 15 paise from 4.80 per unit to 4.95. For the highest slab for consumption beyond 1,000 units, cost would have increased by 35 paise from 11.80 per unit to 12.15.Among the low-tension consumers, tariffs were hiked for private educational institutions, EV charging stations, temporary connections, places of worship, local bodies, and public lighting. For high-tension consumers such as big industries, consumption charges were hiked by up to 50 paise per unit, while fixed (demand) charges were hiked up to 19 per kVA.
