The standalone net profit of state-owned power producer NTPC jumped 48.7 per cent to Rs 4,350.32 crore in the March quarter of 2019 from Rs 2,925.59 crore in the corresponding year-ago period on the back of lower expenses.

The company’s total income slipped to Rs 22,545.61 crore in the fourth quarter from Rs 23,617.83 crore year ago. Expenses also declined to Rs 19,008.44 crore during the quarter under review from Rs 20,229.26 crore in the year-ago period.

For 2018-19, the standalone net profit rose 13.60 per cent to Rs 11,749.89 crore compared with Rs 10,343.17 crore in the previous year.

The total income was Rs 92,179.56 crore in 2018-19, up from Rs 85,207.95 crore during the previous year.

The board of directors of NTPC Ltd has recommended a final dividend for 2018-19 at the rate of 25 per cent of the paid-up share capital (Rs 2.50 per equity share of the face value of Rs 10 each), subject to the approval of shareholders in the annual general meeting scheduled to be held in August.

The final dividend is in addition to the interim dividend of Rs 3.58 per share for 2018-19 paid in February. This is the 26th consecutive year of dividend payment by the company.

The gross power generation of the NTPC group for 2018-19 was 305.90 billion units (BUs) against 294.27 BUs during the previous year. The average power tariff of the firm was Rs 3.38 per unit in the fiscal under review.