SIHRA requests electricity minister to provide relief measures to counter COVID crisis

The South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) has urged the Kerala state government to help the hospitality sector by issuing suitable directions to the electricity board to help them reduce their overheads. In a letter to electricity minister MM Mani, SIHRA vice-president (Kerala) Suresh M Pillai said power bills are one of the major expenses for the hospitality industry.

The letter requested the minister to waive off demand charges during the lock-down period and energy bills be charged on the basis of actual consumption units. The load factor incentives should be calculated excluding the lock-down period and average bills may be issued only in case of non-availability of meter readings, said the letter.

Bill payment due dates for the months of March, April and May 2020 should be extended up to June 30, without any interest. Power factor penalty should be waives off for this period, as it is not possible to maintain it due to various compulsions, the letter stated.

“In view of the fact that revenues of the hospitality industry have drastically dropped with mounting costs of maintenance, it is imperative that the state government offer some relief in terms of measures as stated above,” the letter said.