Gujarat’s energy duty income zooms

The electricity duty income of the state government has gone up sharply in recent years, and is expected to rise further in the coming years, the government said in the assembly on Tuesday.

Energy minister Saurabh Patel said in a written reply that the state government had earned Rs2,344 crore as electricity duty in 2008-09, which had increased to Rs2,621 crore in 2009-10, and to Rs3,238 crore in 2010-11.

The information was provided in response to a question by Congress MLA from Bhiloda, Dr Anil Joshiyara.

In its budgetary estimates, the government has fixed electricity duty income for current year, i.e. 2011-12 at Rs3,500 crore.

The state government has announced relief of Rs200 crore in electricity duty income by slashing the duty rate for residential and education category consumers by 25%. In spite of this, its income from electricity duty is projected to touch Rs3,700 crore in 2012-13.

“The electricity duty is charged on all consumption charges barring meter charges, delayed payment charges, fuel charges and reconnecting charge,” said the minister.