UP Power Bills to Rise by 10% in February as Fuel Surcharge Recovery Ordered

Residents of Uttar Pradesh will face a 10% increase in electricity bills for February, following an order from the State Power Corporation to recover additional charges under the fuel surcharge. This move is expected to place an extra financial burden on consumers.

Reason Behind the Hike
The increase is aimed at covering extra power purchase costs incurred in November 2025. The Power Corporation claims that electricity was procured at ₹5.79 per unit, while the tariff approved by the Electricity Regulatory Commission was ₹4.94 per unit. Based on this difference, the fuel surcharge was applied to February bills.

Consumer Council Raises Concerns
The State Electricity Consumer Council has raised objections, questioning the methodology. Chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma stated that such high electricity costs in a normal-demand month like November are highly suspicious, indicating potential discrepancies in purchase data. The council has urged the Regulatory Commission to conduct an independent, high-level audit and recommended that the 10% hike be suspended until the investigation is completed.

Regulatory Background
According to the commission’s regulations set last January, any additional charges due to fuel and energy procurement are recoverable in the bill for the fourth month following consumption. While the Power Corporation argued that the required surcharge was 12.38%, the commission capped it at 10%, which is why the February bills reflect this 10% increase.

Consumers and consumer rights groups are now awaiting a transparent review to ensure accountability and prevent undue financial burden.