Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 25 January 2024
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are two archipelagos of India. Both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are Union Territories controlled by the Central Government. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are roughly 1200 km away from the Indian Mainland, whereas Kavaratti, the capital of Lakshadweep, is around 404 km away from the closest Indian city on the mainland, i.e., Kochi in the state of Kerala.
Both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are almost completely dependent on diesel-powered generators for their electricity needs.
Both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep have submitted their respective petitions before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (for Goa and Union Territories) to allow an increase in power tariffs across various categories for the Financial Year 2024-25.
Andamans vs Lakshadweep Electricity Tariff: Existing & Proposed Domestic Electricity Tariff for FY 2024-25 | ||||
| Type of Connection & Units | Andamans | Lakshadweep | ||
| Existing | Proposed | Existing | Proposed | |
| Lifeline Connections | 2.24 | 3.40 | 1.40 | 1.60 |
| Domestic Connections (0-100 Units | 2.75 | 4.10 | 1.75 | 3.0 |
| Domestic Connections (101-200 Units) | 6.00 | 9.00 | 3.75 | 4.50 |
| Domestic Connections (201-300 Units) | 8.50 | 12.80 | 6.25 | 6.50 |
| Domestic Connections (301-500 Units) | 8.50 | 12.80 | 7.75 | 8.50 |
| Domestic Connections (501 Units & Above) | 10.25 | 15.40 | 7.75 | 8.50 |
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in their petition to JERC, have sought to increase the tariff per unit of electricity for Lifeline Connections (0-100 units) from the existing Rs. 2.25 to Rs. 3.40. Lakshadweep, on the other hand, has sought to increase the tariff per unit of electricity for Lifeline Connections from Rs. 1.40 to Rs. 1.60.
(All tariffs are in INR)
For Domestic Connections (0-100 Units):
Andamans: Existing – 2.75 | Proposed – 4.10
Lakshadweep: Existing – 1.75 | Proposed – 3.00
For Domestic Connections (101-200 Units):
Andamans: Existing – 6.00 | Proposed – 9.00
Lakshadweep: Existing – 3.75 | Proposed – 4.50
For Domestic Connections (201-300 Units):
Andamans: Existing – 8.50 | Proposed – 12.80
Lakshadweep: Existing – 6.25 | Proposed – 6.50
For Domestic Connections (301-500 Units):
Andamans: Existing – 8.50 | Proposed – 12.80
Lakshadweep: Existing – 7.75 | Proposed – 8.50
For Domestic Connections (501 Units & Above):
Andamans: Existing – 10.25 | Proposed – 15.40
Lakshadweep: Existing – 7.75 | Proposed – 8.50