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The Karnataka government has announced a hike in electricity tariff by 3.84% for all electricity supply companies (ESCOMs) for the ongoing fiscal year 2021-2022.

The revised tariff as notified by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) will come into effect for the electricity consumed from the first-meter reading date falling on or after 1st April 2021.

“The increase in tariff is necessitated due to the fact that the cost of power purchase has been increasing year after year, due to procurement of energy from new thermal and from Renewable energy sources, to meet the demand,” read the KERC statement.

Last year, in November, the KERC had announced a hike in tariff by an average of 40 paise for the previous fiscal (2020-2021). However, it was decided to make the then revised tariff applicable only from November and not April (as usual), saying it would ensure “consumers are not burdened during the adverse economic conditions during the pandemic.”

The leader of the opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah responded to this on Twitter questioning the government’s decision to hike the electricity and tariff. He said the increase will “kill everyone” as from common citizens to industries, “all are suffering due to the pandemic.”