Jamshedpur, Jan. 12 -- Businesses and industries here in Jamshedpur and Adityapur regions are up in arms against the proposed hike in electricity tariff by the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL), describing it as 'exorbitant', 'illogical', 'anti-consumer' and ultra vires of the regulatory principles, people close to the development said on Sunday. The matter came to the fore after the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) registered a strong protest against the proposed hike before the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC), warning that the 'tariff shock' proposed by JBVNL for fiscal 2026-27 could cripple the state's economy. "The JBVNL proposal to hike electricity tariffs in the range of 50% to 90% across domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors is anti-consumer and impractical. The proposed hike lacks economic rationale, especially as the global coal prices have stabilized. The JBVNL is trying to pass the bulls for its own internal failures onto the public," Manav Kedia, SCCI president, told HT on Sunday. Kedia further elaborated that the consumers should not be made to pay for JBVNL's failure to stop 'rampant power theft' and high distribution loss and 'managerial inefficiencies.' We demand a prohibition on recovering losses that exceed established regulatory norms. The JBVNL has consistently failed to meet Mukti-Year-Tariff (MYT) targets, which legally should result in cost disallowance, not price hikes," Kedia reminded. Business fraternity said that the proposed hike was expected to hit the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector particularly hard. "The production cost for the MSME and large industries is likely to see an increase of 15-20%, resulting in loss of competitiveness and potential lay-offs. The domestic cost is going to be high and significant cost increase in the agriculture sector as well, severely affecting monthly savings and increased burden on the farmers. Electricity is not a tool for revenue generation, it is the backbone of industry and development," said Harsh Bankrewal, SCCI VP (Industry). The SCCI has also cited sections 61 and 62 of the Electricity Act-2003, emphasising that the JSERC has a conditional obligation to protect the consumers. The SCCI has demanded total rejection of the current tariff hike proposal, complete transparency in cost data submitted by the JBVNL, efficiency-linked tariffs that rewards performance rather than penalising the customers for the utility losses and cost-based pricing strictly adhering to the regulatory principles. "Forcing the current consumers to pay for the accumulated revenue deficits from the previous years is a form of 'intergenerational injustice.' We have appealed for and hope that the JSERC will uphold public interest," added Kedia....