Residents of Uttar Pradesh are set to see a significant jump in their electricity bills this December. The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has announced it will collect its highest-ever fuel and power purchase adjustment surcharge (FPPAS) from consumers next month.
Details of the Record Surcharge
The state power utility has levied a surcharge of 5.56% to adjust for variations in fuel costs incurred during September. This single-month collection is projected to garner approximately Rs 264 crore from consumers across Uttar Pradesh. This surpasses the previous high of a 4.27% surcharge, which was applied in June 2025 to account for March 2025's fuel cost variations.
Consumer Advocacy Groups Voice Strong Opposition
The decision has immediately drawn sharp criticism from consumer rights bodies. Leading the charge is Awadhesh Kumar Verma, chairman of the UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) and a member of the state advisory committee. Verma expressed grave concern, arguing that imposing this additional charge is unjustified and against consumer interests.
He pointed to the massive surplus funds that power companies already hold from consumers. According to Verma, power companies have a total surplus exceeding Rs 51,000 crore belonging to consumers. This colossal amount includes an existing surplus of Rs 33,122 crore from previous years, plus an additional Rs 18,592 crore that has accrued in the current year alone.
Formal Challenge and Regulatory Appeal Planned
Verma asserted that when such a large consumer surplus is already available, the fuel surcharge should either be reduced to zero or adjusted against this surplus amount. He emphasized that the rules mandate a fuel surcharge only when power companies bear an additional financial burden, a condition he claims is not met in this instance.
In response, UPRVUP will formally approach the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC). The objective of this appeal is to demand a reconsideration and potential revocation of the newly imposed surcharge, protecting consumers from what the group sees as an unfair financial levy.
