Power Minister Piyush Goyal today said there was no need for lower taxes to encourage clean energy and the GST regime will have no impact on power rates. <br/><br/>However, the minister is hopeful that lower GST rate of 5 per cent on coal, compared to existing 11.69 per cent, would help discoms provide power at affordable rates.<br/><br/>Yesterday the GST Council had finalised the rates on various products including renewable energy equipment which has been kept in the 5 per cent slab.<br/><br/>About taxes on power equipment, he said, the government has been maintaining the power prices at affordable levels. The minister said, NTPC has been able to bring down their variable cost by 20 per cent.