GUWAHATI: If all goes well, power consumers in Assam using less than 300 units may have to pay ₹1 less per unit beginning next year.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to explore the feasibility of lowering the tariff by ₹1 per unit, contingent on stable conditions from April 1, 2025.
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“We have done a lot of reforms in the power sector and these reforms have clearly helped the three electricity boards to stand on their own feet. Today, just like we get dividends from Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL), similarly, APDCL has a big responsibility to give relief to the consumer because whatever we do, the end goal should be our consumers or the citizens of Assam,” said CM Sarma in a video shared on X.
Currently, the tariff for this category of consumers is ₹5.85 per unit.
Sarma urged APDCL to prepare over the next six months to ensure that the tariff can be reduced to ₹4.85 per unit by the target date. He also mentioned that if conditions remain favourable, an additional reduction of ₹0.50 per unit could be possible by 2026, making the total reduction ₹1.50 per unit.
Sarma acknowledged that traditionally, electricity prices tend to rise annually, but he expressed his determination to reverse this trend without causing financial losses. He called for stringent measures against electricity theft and timely bill payments to achieve this goal.
“In this election, when I talked to people during the campaign, many poor people asked me if the electricity cost can be reduced,” Sarma added, stating the significant impact this reduction would have on the common man. The proposed tariff reduction, if implemented, would bring substantial relief to Assam’s middle-class families, aligning with the government's commitment to prioritizing consumer welfare.”