Much to the relief of power consumers of different categories, the hike in the revised electricity rates for 2011-12 announced by MP Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC), were not as steep as expected here on Monday. The average rates have risen by around 6.14 per cent. Announcing the revised rates, the chairman of the MPERC Rakesh Sahni told mediapersons that revision in electricity rates was imperative as prices of each and every commodity is showing an upward trend in the recent past. Referring to spiraling petroleum and coal prices, Sahni said that the cost of power generation has gone up. He said that the revised rates would be enforced from June 1 onwards. Much to the respite of industries, this category has witnessed relatively lesser hike in terms of domestic and agriculture categories. Consumers using less than 100 units of power per month would be made to pay 15 p per unit extra, while consumers using 101 to 200 and more than 200 units would be paying 25 p and 30 p extra respectively. Sahni on the issue of power cuts in towns and villages said that a minimum limit has been given to distribution companies below which the supplies should not go. The MPERC chairman also said that efforts are on for reducing line losses by increasing the penalty on power thefts. Sahni however declined to comment as to why the initial audit reports of discoms were rejected by the commission. The MPERC chairman commenting on the public hearings before the revision of rates, said that these hearings do not carry any legal validity but affirmed that commission has no plans to do away with these hearings. Sahni declined to comment on the targets given to discoms regarding line losses by saying that the last year figures are yet to be received. Giving nominal hike to power rates in agricultural consumers, the commission has raised the charges for temporary connection only by 5 p /unit, keeping in mind the growing demand for these connections for agricultural purposes and existing higher rates. As against proposed 40 pr cent hike, commission approved 6-7 per cent hike for different categories. Revised rates to come into effect from June 1.