Lucknow, March 27: Relief may be on the horizon for approximately 2 million consumers in Uttar Pradesh as the regulatory commission deliberates on new electricity tariffs. The commission is considering providing relief to consumers operating small businesses from their homes in rural areas, such as tailoring, grocery stores, and mobile repair services.
During hearings regarding the new electricity rates, the issue of these consumers was raised. Sources indicate that the commission might decide to offer them relief as part of the new tariff structure.
Many individuals in rural areas rely on small businesses for their livelihoods, but the electricity department has often categorized their connections as commercial rather than residential. In some instances, cases of electricity theft have been filed against these small businesses for using domestic electricity. The demand for relief for these consumers has been consistently voiced, and the Power Corporation has already submitted its opinion on the matter, suggesting a decision could be forthcoming.
In 2019, the State Electricity Consumer Council proposed to the regulatory commission that strict revenue targets should not be imposed on such consumers. The council’s president, Avadhesh Kumar Verma, stated that the commission was urged to adopt a lenient approach. The commission had requested reports from electricity companies, and the Power Corporation suggested that rural consumers with a consumption of up to 200 units and 2 kilowatts could be classified under the domestic category with certain conditions. However, no final decision has been reached yet. The Consumer Council has raised this issue again during hearings in Noida, Bareilly, and Varanasi, and is also seeking government intervention.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Employees Joint Struggle Committee has accused the management of preparing for large-scale actions against engineers. The committee’s coordinator, Shailendra Dubey, claimed that during a recent video conference, the Power Corporation’s president, Dr. Ashish Goyal, instructed officials to prepare a list of at least five superintending engineers, 15 executive engineers, and a proportional number of assistant engineers and junior engineers for suspension by April 1. The committee expressed concerns that such actions could create unrest and impact electricity supply during the upcoming summer months. In Lucknow alone, 340 contract employees have been terminated this month.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
