<p>Advertisers, who employ billboards and decorative lights for drawing customers, will now find it too expensive as the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has decided to make it a separate category for billing. It has proposed a tariff of Rs 12 per unit. <br /><br />Businessmen and some of the traders have termed the proposal to hike the tariff as unjust. <br />“We are already paying Rs 5.50 per unit as commercial rate for the connections. The proposed hike is too high,” said T V Maruthi, Proprietor of Shantala Silks. <br /><br />K H Raju, who runs a chain of shops of adventure gears called Adventure Worx describes the proposal as unfair. <br /><br />“Despite paying commercial price the Bescom does not supply adequate power. They impose loadshedding and provide poor quality power. Also, when the equipment is damaged they do not won the responsibility. And, now they propose a hike in tariff,” he questioned.<br /><br />However, Srinivas Murthy, Chairman, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries said the proposal does not amount to any difference as the traders are paying at least Rs one lakh per month as electricity bill. <br /><br />“The hike would only amount to a few more thousands of rupees,” he said. An expert on power said they should have at least installed a separate meter and hiked the tariff anywhere between Rs 6 and Rs 8. <br /><br />“The hike is unreasonable. The Bescom should install separate meters and restrictions should be imposed between 6 and 9 am in the evening, when the tariff slab is high, to meet the energy shortage,” he said.<br /><br />M G Prabhakar, President, Energy Committee, FKCCI said the matter will be addressed appropriately when the objections are filed.<br /></p>
<p>Advertisers, who employ billboards and decorative lights for drawing customers, will now find it too expensive as the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has decided to make it a separate category for billing. It has proposed a tariff of Rs 12 per unit. <br /><br />Businessmen and some of the traders have termed the proposal to hike the tariff as unjust. <br />“We are already paying Rs 5.50 per unit as commercial rate for the connections. The proposed hike is too high,” said T V Maruthi, Proprietor of Shantala Silks. <br /><br />K H Raju, who runs a chain of shops of adventure gears called Adventure Worx describes the proposal as unfair. <br /><br />“Despite paying commercial price the Bescom does not supply adequate power. They impose loadshedding and provide poor quality power. Also, when the equipment is damaged they do not won the responsibility. And, now they propose a hike in tariff,” he questioned.<br /><br />However, Srinivas Murthy, Chairman, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries said the proposal does not amount to any difference as the traders are paying at least Rs one lakh per month as electricity bill. <br /><br />“The hike would only amount to a few more thousands of rupees,” he said. An expert on power said they should have at least installed a separate meter and hiked the tariff anywhere between Rs 6 and Rs 8. <br /><br />“The hike is unreasonable. The Bescom should install separate meters and restrictions should be imposed between 6 and 9 am in the evening, when the tariff slab is high, to meet the energy shortage,” he said.<br /><br />M G Prabhakar, President, Energy Committee, FKCCI said the matter will be addressed appropriately when the objections are filed.<br /></p>
