Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s electricity consumers may soon face steeper bills, with power distribution companies seeking a 30% hike in tariffs. Justifying the proposal, officials point to a reported Rs 19,600 crore deficit and over Rs 72,000 crore in unpaid dues from lakhs of defaulting consumers.
According to official data, over 50 lakh users have never paid for electricity usage, and another 78.65 lakh have defaulted for more than six months. Discoms also cite technical and commercial losses exceeding 50% on nearly 9,000 feeders raising questions over the effectiveness of past investment claims.
Despite boasting Rs 70,792 crore spent on “infrastructure upgrades” over a decade, distribution losses still hover at 16.5%, as per public records though internal estimates reportedly place the figure above 40%. The corporation loses Rs 3.28 on every unit supplied.
Operational expenses have outpaced revenues since 2020, with officials warning that mounting debt Rs 70,000 crore and counting could jeopardize future development schemes if tariffs remain unchanged.
While the numbers may be technically sound, the push for higher tariffs amid widespread inefficiencies, legacy losses, and questionable reforms reflects a deeper administrative inertia than acknowledged. For now, the burden looks set to shift again to the average consumer.
