AERC has allowed the power distributor to recover accumulated fuel and power purchase costs over five months, from November 2026 to March 2027, while leaving the monthly rates to APDCL’s discretion
Guwahati: Electricity consumers in Assam may face higher power bills from November after the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) permitted the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) to recover around Rs 155.59 crore in accumulated Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment Surcharge (FPPPAS).
The amount covers additional power purchase and transmission costs accumulated between April and August 2026. APDCL will be allowed to recover the dues in phases over five months, ending March 2027.
APDCL sought regulatory relaxation, citing delays caused by flood-related disruptions and other force majeure circumstances. The commission relaxed provisions of its 2024 FPPPAS regulations to facilitate the recovery.
However, AERC did not accept APDCL’s proposed month-wise collection plan or its suggested reduced surcharge for Jeevan Dhara and eligible low-consumption domestic households.
Instead, it gave the company flexibility to determine the monthly levy, directing it to consider the impact on consumers and separately show the accumulated dues and regular monthly surcharge in bills.
The commission has also ordered APDCL to maintain detailed records of collections and submit them for scrutiny. It clarified that the special relaxation would not set a precedent for future cases, stressing the need for timely surcharge recovery to prevent sudden tariff burdens.
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