Digital Goa, May 9 – Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) held a public hearing in Panaji on the State Electricity Department’s proposal to hike power tariffs by 5.95% across all consumer categories for 2025-26. The department also proposed further hikes of 5.64% for 2026-27 and 4.88% for 2027-28 under a Multi Year Tariff (MYT) plan for 2025–2030. The tariff hike, if approved, will be implemented from June 2025. The department cited rising power demand and infrastructure costs as key reasons for the hike. In the past 3 years average load has increased by 10 to 12 % while during peak summer the load increases by 25 to 30 %. Market rate for additional power purchase during summer is as high as Rs 10 per unit, said CEE Stephen Fernandes. Civic bodies, industry representatives, and political parties, including the Goa Forward Party, voiced opposition during the hearing. NGO GoaCan called for an investigation into the failed Rs150 crore aerial bunch cabling project.
