The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has announced an extra surcharge under fuel adjustment charge for electricity consumers across the state, leading to a hike in monthly bills. The shift will lead to electricity costs rising by almost 10 per cent, putting additional hardship on household, industry and business consumers around the state.
The revised surcharge will take effect from the next billing cycle, and will be included in the electricity bills from June, according to the official order. The extra will be levied as a fuel surcharge on top of the electricity tariff regime. The reason for the adjustment is to recoup the increased costs for distribution companies in procuring fuel and buying power, officials said.
The fuel surcharge mechanism is a regular process of adjustment to keep financial stability in the power distribution system due to changes in fuel prices and electricity procurement costs, UPPCL said. The corporation made it clear that the decision is in accordance with the regulations.
But, the timing of the increase has come under question from consumers, particularly as there are several areas in Uttar Pradesh where power cuts and power shortages are becoming frequent in the summer season. The rise has been condemned by consumer groups and opposition, claiming that people are already facing difficulty in their livelihoods due to the high cost of living and irregular electricity supply.
The revised billing will have an impact on all category consumption in both domestic and commercial use and industrial consumption, depending on the tariff and the consumption levels of the user. New bills are due to be issued soon and the extra cost will be felt across the state in the coming weeks.