Tangedco to table tariff for rural hosps by Nov 30

“The commission gives direction to Tangedco to bring the petitioner’s hospitals established in the rural areas in a separate category in the next tariff petition which will be filed on or before November 30 with the details of the number of such hospitals, the expected consumption of units of electricity per annum and other details so as to take a decision on the petitioner’s claim on merits,” the order said.

An order to this effect was passed in a petition filed by the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) president, Dr S Gurushankar, seeking lower tariff category for the hospitals with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation in the rural areas.

In the petition, Dr Gurushankar said that in Tamil Nadu, all the private hospitals fall under the category of HT-III (Rs 8 per unit), which a residual category covering those commercial establishments without taking into account the geographical location of the hospitals. Pointing to the case of Karnataka and Maharashtra fixing tariff under a separate category for private hospitals, the association wanted the commission to order separate lower tariffs for the NABH-accredited private hospitals in rural and semi-urban areas in the State.

Tangedco pointed out that the commission had fixed the HT tariff IIA (Rs 6.35 per unit) for those services under the control of the Central /State governments/local bodies, which includes hospitals, primary health centres and health sub centres. “The private hospitals are classified under HT tariff III, as they are not covered under high tension tariff category,” Tangedco said, adding that seeking concession could be argued only during the tariff settings in the future and could not be invoked for reclassification in the existing tariff order category of consumers.

Therefore, TNERC ordered that the creation of a new category of consumers with necessary data be submitted in the next public hearing meeting that will be held at the time of filing of tariff application for determination of tariff by Tangedco. It also directed Tangedco to file the tariff petition on or before November 30 this year with number of such hospitals and power consumption details to decide on the petitioner’s claim on merits.