Bowing to intense pressure from consumers, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has re-adjusted its tariff structure that is expected to provide low-end consumers with a relief of 5 per cent to 22 per cent in their electricity bills.

The DERC reintroduced the slabs of 0-200 and 201-400 units. For the first 200 units, consumers will be charged Rs. 3.70 per unit. Each unit from 201 to 400 will cost Rs. 5.50.

It means those households that had been consuming 201 units of electricity and paying Rs. 964.80 per month will now have to pay Rs. 745.50, saving Rs. 219.30 per month for consumers.

PD Sudhakar, chairman of DERC, said the new slab would benefit 40 per cent of consumers in Delhi. Announcing the new slab, he said, "The consumption of majority of consumers in the city does not go beyond 400 units per month. So, the adjustment will benefit most low-end consumers."

However, tariff hike would continue for those who consume more than 400 units of electricity.

BJP leader V K Malhotra has described the DERC's move as "too small, too late".

The re-adjusted slabs will be applicable with retrospective effect from 1st of July.

The DERC had abolished the slab of 201-400, along with a hike of 26 per cent in tariff for domestic consumers in June 2011. Swapping the slab of 201-400 with a slab of 0-400 had increased electricity bills of the majority of consumers by around a third.