The GST Council has raised the cost of energy in the economy, increasing the GST on coal from 5% to 18%, and increasing the GST on transportation of crude and refined products by pipeline from 12% to 18%. The GST on job contracts associated with the exploration and development of oil fields and the production of hydrocarbons, has also gone up. Since GST does not apply to either electricity or petrofuels, the increase in these tax rates will add to the cost of energy in their totality.