- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 03:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has proposed a steep hike of up to 30 per cent in electricity tariffs across consumer categories for the financial year 2025–26, submitting its proposal to the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) on Friday. The proposal includes a significant increase of 35–45 per cent for rural domestic consumers and 35–40 per cent for urban domestic consumers, marking the highest proposed hike in the state’s history.
Additionally, UPPCL has sought the Regulatory Commission's opinion on its privatisation draft, further intensifying ongoing debates around energy sector reforms in the state.
The Corporation has projected a revenue deficit of Rs 19,644 crore and has also submitted its Cost Data Book, proposing a 25–30 per cent increase in charges for new electricity connections across all consumer categories.
However, the State Electricity Consumer Council has raised serious objections, calling the move unconstitutional and ill-timed, as the UPERC has already begun the public hearing process and published Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) data. Council President Awadhesh Kumar Verma argued that proposing category-wise tariff hikes at this stage undermines due process.
He also reminded that a similar proposal was rejected in the past due to consumer objections. The Council has demanded a 45 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs, citing Rs 33,122 crore in dues owed by consumers to power companies.
Proposed Hike (Category-wise):
-Urban Domestic: 35–40 per cent
-Rural Domestic: 40–45 per cent
-Commercial: 20–25 per cent
-Industrial: 15–18 per cent
-Overall Average: 29–30 per cent
The Regulatory Commission is expected to take a call on the proposal after considering stakeholder feedback and constitutional protocols.
