What is the Tariff for Electricity Bill?
The amount of money framed by the supplier for the supply of electrical energy to various types of consumers is known as an electricity tariff. In other words, the tariff is the method of charging a consumer for consuming electric power. Electricity Tariff rates or pricing varies widely from country to country, and significantly from locality to locality within a particular country.
Let's know the Characteristics of the Tariff, Types of Tariffs , and examples of Tariff calculation.
Problem: Say a consumer has a maximum demand of 200 kW at 40% load factor. If the tariff is Tk. 100 per kW of maximum demand plus 10 paise per kWh, find the overall cost per kWh. Solution: Units consumed/year = Max. demand × L.F. × Hours in a year = (200) × (0·4) × 8760 = 7,00,800 kWh Annual charges = Annual M.D. charges + Annual energy charges = Tk (100 × 200 + 0·1 × 7,00,800) = Tk 90,080
∴ Overall cost/kWh = Tk 90,080/ 7,00,800 = Tk 0·1285 = 12·85 paise
Come on details about Tariff on Electricity
Generally, the electrical energy produced by a power station is delivered to a large number of consumers through a transmission and distribution line network. Consumers can be persuaded to use electrical energy if it is sold at reasonable rates. The tariff or the rate at which electrical energy is sold naturally becomes attention inviting for the electric supply company. The supply company has to ensure that the tariff is such that it not only recovers the total cost of producing electrical energy but also earns profit on capital investment. However, the profit must be marginal, particularly for a country like Bangladesh where electric supply companies come under a government-organized public limited company. In this article, we shall deal with various types of tariffs with their advantages and disadvantages.
The rate at which electrical energy is supplied to a consumer is known as a tariff.
Although tariffs should include the total cost of producing and supplying electrical energy plus the profit, they cannot be the same for all types of consumers. This is because the cost of producing electrical energy depends to a considerable extent upon the magnitude of electrical energy consumed by the user and his load conditions. Therefore, in all fairness, due consideration has to be given to different types of consumers like- industrial, domestic, and commercial; while fixing the tariff. This makes the problem of suitable rate-making highly complicated.
Objectives of Electricity Tariff:
Like other commodities, electrical energy is also sold at such a rate so that it not only returns the cost but also earns a reasonable profit. Therefore, a tariff should include the following items:
(i) Recovery of the cost of producing electrical energy at the power station.
(ii) Cost recovery on capital investment in transmission and distribution systems.
(iii) Recovery of the cost of operation and maintenance of a supply of electrical energy e.g., metering equipment, billing, etc.
(iv) A suitable profit on capital investment.
Characteristics of Electricity Tariff:
A tariff must have the following desirable characteristics :
(i) Proper return: The tariff should ensure the proper return from each consumer. In other words, the total receipts from the consumers must be equal to the cost of producing and supplying electrical energy plus a reasonable profit. This will enable the electric supply company to ensure continuous and reliable service to the consumers.
(ii) Fairness: The tariff must be fair so that different types of consumers are satisfied with the rate of charge of electrical energy. Thus a big consumer should be charged at a lower rate than a small consumer. This is because increased energy consumption spreads the fixed charges over a greater number of units, thus reducing the overall cost of producing electrical energy. Similarly, a consumer whose load conditions do not deviate much from the ideal (i.e., non-variable) should be charged at a lower rate than the one whose load conditions change appreciably from the ideal.
(iii) Simplicity: The tariff should be simple so that an ordinary consumer can easily understand it. A complicated tariff may cause opposition from the public which is generally distrustful of supply companies.
(iv) Reasonable profit: The profit element in the tariff should be reasonable. An electric supply company is a public utility company and generally enjoys the benefits of a monopoly. Therefore, the investment is relatively safe due to non-competition in the market. This calls for the profit to be restricted to 8% or so per annum.
(v) Attractive: The tariff should be attractive so that a large number of consumers are encouraged to use electrical energy. Efforts should be made to fix the tariff in such a way so that consumers can pay easily.
Types of Tariff for Electricity Bill:
There are several types of tariffs. However, the following are the commonly used types of tariff :
1. Simple tariff:
When there is a fixed rate per unit of energy consumed, it is called a simple tariff or uniform rate tariff.
In this type of tariff, the price charged per unit is constant i.e., it does not vary with an increase or decrease in the number of units consumed. The consumption of electrical energy at the consumer’s terminals is recorded by means of an energy meter. This is the simplest of all tariffs and is readily understood by the consumers.
Disadvantages of Simple Tariff
(i) There is no discrimination between different types of consumers since every consumer has to pay equitably for the fixed charges.
(ii) The cost per unit delivered is high.
(iii) It does not encourage the use of electricity.
2. Flat rate tariff:
When different types of consumers are charged at different uniform per unit rates, it is called a flat-rate tariff.
In this type of tariff, the consumers are grouped into different classes and each class of consumers is charged at a different uniform rate. For instance, the flat rate per kWh for lighting load may be 60 paise, whereas it may be slightly less† (say 55 paise per kWh) for power load. The different classes of consumers are made taking into account their diversity and load factors. The advantage of such a tariff is that it is fairer to different types of consumers and is quite simple to calculate.
Disadvantages of Flat-rate Tariff
(i) Since the flat rate tariff varies according to the way the supply is used, separate meters are required for lighting load, power load, etc. This makes the application of such a tariff expensive and complicated.
(ii) A particular class of consumers is charged at the same rate irrespective of the magnitude of energy consumed. However, a big consumer should be charged at a lower rate as in his case the fixed charges per unit are reduced.
3. Block rate tariff:
When a given block of energy is charged at a specified rate and the succeeding blocks of energy are charged at progressively reduced rates, it is called a block rate tariff. In block rate tariff, the energy consumption is divided into blocks and the price per unit is fixed in each block. The price per unit in the first block is the highest and it is progressively reduced for the succeeding blocks of energy. For example, the first 30 units may be charged at the rate of 60 paise per unit; the next 25 units at the rate of 55 paise per unit, and the remaining additional units may be charged at the rate of 30 paise per unit.
The advantage of such a tariff is that the consumer gets an incentive to consume more electrical energy. This increases the load factor of the system and hence the cost of generation is reduced. However, its principal defect is that it lacks a measure of the consumer’s demand. This type of tariff is being used for the majority of residential and small commercial consumers.
4. Two-part tariff:
When the rate of electrical energy is charged on the basis of the maximum demand of the consumer and the units consumed, it is called a two-part tariff.
In a two-part tariff, the total charge to be made from the consumer is split into two components viz., fixed charges and running charges. The fixed charges depend upon the maximum demand of the consumer while the running charges depend upon the number of units consumed by the consumer. Thus, the consumer is charged at a certain amount per kW of maximum†† demand plus a certain amount per kWh of energy consumed i.e.,
- The total cost of electrical energy consists of fixed charges and running charges. The greater the number of units consumed, the lesser the fixed charges per unit. Therefore, a consumer who consumes more units must pay less fixed charges per unit.
- The flat rate for the power load is always less than the lighting load. It is because the power load is much more than the lighting load and, therefore, improves the load factor of the system to a great extent.
- Generally, fixed charges are merged into the running charges for the first and second blocks of energy so that the price per unit for these blocks is high.
- The maximum demand of consumers is generally assessed on the basis of the rateable value of the premises the number of rooms or on the connected load.
Total charges = Tk (b × kW + c × kWh)
where,
b = charge per kW of maximum demand
c = charge per kWh of energy consumed This type of tariff is mostly applicable to industrial consumers who have appreciable maximum demand.
Advantages of Two-part tariff
(i) It is easily understood by the consumers.
(ii) It recovers the fixed charges which depend upon the maximum demand of the consumer but are independent of the units consumed.
Disadvantages of Two-part tariff
(i) The consumer has to pay the fixed charges irrespective of the fact whether he has consumed or not consumed the electrical energy.
(ii) There is always an error in assessing the maximum demand of the consumer.
5. Maximum demand tariff:
It is similar to a two-part tariff with the only difference being that the maximum demand is actually measured by installing a maximum demand meter in the premises of the consumer. This removes the objection of a two-part tariff where the maximum demand is assessed merely on the basis of the rateable value. This type of tariff is mostly applied to big consumers. However, it is not suitable for a small consumer (e.g., residential consumer) as a separate maximum demand meter is required.
6. Power factor tariff:
The tariff in which the power factor of the consumer’s load is taken into consideration is known as the power factor tariff.
In an a.c. the system, the power factor plays an important role. A low power factor increases the rating of station equipment and line losses. Therefore, a consumer who has a low power factor must be penalized. The following are the important types of power factor tariffs:
(i) k VA maximum demand tariff :
It is a modified form of a two-part tariff. In this case, the fixed charges are made on the basis of maximum demand in kVA and not in kW. As kVA is inversely proportional to the power factor, therefore, a consumer having a low power factor has to contribute more towards the fixed charges. This type of tariff has the advantage that it encourages the consumers to operate their appliances and machinery at an improved power factor.
(ii) Sliding scale tariff :
This is also known as the average power factor tariff. In this case, an average power factor, say 0·8 lagging, is taken as the reference. If the power factor of the consumer falls below this factor, suitable additional charges are made. On the other hand, if the power factor is above the reference, a discount is allowed to the consumer.
(iii) kW and kVAR tariff :
In this type, both active power (kW) and reactive power (kVAR) supplied are charged separately. A consumer having a low power factor will draw more reactive power and hence shall have to pay more charges.
7. Three-part tariff:
When the total charge to be made from the consumer is split into three parts viz., fixed charge, semi-fixed charge, and running charge, it is known as a three-part tariff. i.e.,
Total charge = Tk (a + b × kW + c × kWh)
where,
a = fixed charge made during each billing period. It includes interest and depreciation on the cost of secondary distribution and the labor cost of collecting revenues,
b = charge per kW of maximum demand,
c = charge per kWh of energy consumed.
It may be seen that by adding a fixed charge or consumer’s charge (i.e., a) to the two-part tariff, it becomes a three-part tariff. The principal objective of this type of tariff in electricity bills is that the charges are split into three components. This type of tariff is generally applied to big consumers.
Read more about tariff rate sources:
Tariff Rate of BPDB Bangladesh Power Development Board
Tariff Rate DPDC Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd.
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