Sampat Singh challenges power tariff hike by regulatory panel

Senior Congress leader and former Haryana minister Prof Sampat Singh has filed a review petition challenging the recent power tariff hike by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), calling it a “tariff shock” for consumers.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress office after filing the petition, Singh said, “Consumers across all categories received inflated electricity bills in June 2025. The public is rightly protesting the unjust tariff order.”

Prof Singh highlighted the pricing discrepancy, stating, “The utilities are purchasing 7,964.28 crore units of electricity at Rs 3.12 per unit, but selling it to consumers at an average rate of Rs 7.29 per unit.”

He alleged that over 1,000 crore units are lost in transmission and distribution, pushing losses beyond 22%. “Consumers are being billed for power they never received. These losses are being unfairly passed on to them,” he said.

Singh also pointed to the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) launched in 2015, under which the Haryana Government absorbed Rs 34,000 crore in utility debt. “Despite a reported profit of Rs 800 crore in 2021, instead of reducing tariffs, the burden on consumers has increased,” he noted.

He criticised the introduction of fixed charges for domestic consumers —ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 75 per kW — for the first time. Per-unit charges have also risen by 25% to 50%. “The telescopic slab system has now been approved, further escalating bills,” he said.

Commercial users have also been hit by category mergers. Fixed charges rose from Rs 165 to Rs 290 per kVA, and per-unit charges increased to Rs 6.95. “Industrial consumers with loads above 50 kW now pay Rs 7.25 per unit and Rs 290 per kW, up from Rs 6.55 and Rs 165 last year,” Singh said.

Comparing Haryana to neighbouring states, he said, “Delhi and Rajasthan levy just Rs 125 and Rs 160 per kVA, making Haryana’s rates uncompetitive.”

He also slammed the continued imposition of a 47 paise per unit Fuel Surcharge Adjustment (FSA) that was meant to end in June 2024, calling it “an unjust and ongoing burden.”

Finally, Singh pointed to outstanding dues of Rs 8,000 crore from 22 lakh defaulting consumers. “The remaining consumers are indirectly paying the price for this massive default,” he said.

He urged HERC to admit his review petition and conduct a public hearing to address these pressing issues.

Haryana Tribune