Overview
- The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission finalised an average 6.83% hike for retail power tariffs for 2026–27 on Saturday and ordered the new rates to apply only to electricity consumed from September 1, 2026.
- Domestic metered rates were fixed at ₹2.45 per unit for up to 200 units, ₹4.20 for 201–400 units, and ₹4.60 above 400 units, with a domestic fixed charge of ₹10 per kW per month.
- JERC approved a combined Annual Revenue Requirement of ₹10,275.72 crore for JPDCL and KPDCL and projected revenue of ₹7,854.94 crore under the revised tariff, leaving a ₹2,420.78 crore gap to be met by government subsidy and grants.
- The regulator said closing the full shortfall through tariffs would have meant roughly a 40% increase, and the order preserves concessional rates for BPL and small agricultural users while raising commercial and industrial charges.
- The decision provoked sharp political criticism for breaking the 2024 promise of 200 free units, trade bodies warned of added strain on households and businesses, and officials will need to monitor subsidy delivery and bill impacts through March 31, 2027.