Guwahati: The All Assam Electricity Consumers Association on Saturday said the electricity tariff announced for the 2026–27 financial year offers no real relief to consumers and reiterated its demand for free power to poor households in the state.
In a statement issued following the tariff announcement by the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC), the association said the rates have largely been retained despite widespread public objections to the proposal submitted by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).
Association convenors Ajay Acharya and Hillol Bhattacharya said that although the regulatory commission refrained from increasing tariffs in the face of public protests, the existing rate structure has been maintained without providing any tangible benefit to consumers.
They alleged that the state government had earned a profit of around Rs 400 crore from electricity tariffs last year, which, according to them, indicated that consumers had been overcharged. In such circumstances, the tariff should have been reduced this year instead of being retained at the previous level, they said.
The association also pointed out that several states, including Bihar and Delhi, provide a certain amount of electricity free of cost to domestic consumers. However, despite repeated public demands, the BJP-led government in Assam has not introduced any such scheme, it added.
Reiterating its demand, the association urged the state government to provide 125 units of electricity per month free of cost to poor domestic consumers in Assam.