Residents in the New Delhi Municipal Council areas will have to pay more for power from May onwards. On Monday, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission allowed the NDMC a fuel price adjustment surcharge of 11 per cent on a provisional basis.

The NDMC had petitioned the DERC to allow an increase in variable part of the tariff of 11.18 per cent on account of fuel price adjustment surcharge, but has been allowed 11 per cent for the quarter January-March 2012.

The hike in power costs will come into effect from May 14 to August 13. “It is clarified that fuel price adjustment is a component of the tariff and its application will be in the same manner as in the case of a tariff revision i.e. it will be applicable only on the pro-rata consumption from May 14,” said the Commission in its order.

The fuel price adjustment surcharge will be levied only on the energy consumed by the users between May 14 and August 13, 2012. The consumption will be determined on a pro-rata basis if the meter reading is taken before May 14 or after August 13.

NDMC area includes Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Lodhi Road and it also houses VIP addresses like the Prime Minister's House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and a host of Ministries and government buildings.

Power tariff in the NDMC areas have always been less than the cost of power in areas that are supplied power by the three discoms -- BRPL, BYPL and TPDDL. Currently (without the FPA) the domestic category consumers in NDMC area have to pay Rs.2 per unit for consumption between 0-100 units, Rs. 2.70 per unit for consumption between 101-200 units, Rs. 3.60 per unit for usage between 201-400 units and Rs. 4.35 per unit for usage above 400 units a month.

With the 11 per cent fuel price adjustment surcharge, the price of power will increase substantially for the various categories.