Shimla, April 30,
The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has implemented a revised electricity tariff structure for domestic consumers, bringing higher rates for households consuming more than 300 units per month. The new four-slab system, effective immediately, aims to balance subsidy benefits for low-usage consumers while ensuring that high-consumption users pay closer to actual costs.
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Under the revised structure, domestic consumers using up to 60 units per month will be charged Rs 4.72 per unit, while those consuming between 61 and 125 units will pay Rs 5.45 per unit. Despite the revision, the first 125 units remain free for eligible households under the state’s ongoing subsidy scheme.
Consumers falling in the 126 to 300 units slab will be charged Rs 5.90 per unit, but with a subsidy of Rs 1.73 per unit, resulting in an effective rate of Rs 4.17. However, households that consume over 300 units per month will lose all subsidy benefits and will be billed at the full rate of Rs 5.90 per unit.
The new tariff regime is designed to encourage energy conservation and reduce the state’s financial burden from widespread subsidies. Energy Secretary Rakesh Kanwar confirmed that the revised rates will reflect in the May billing cycle. He stated that the tiered system ensures fair distribution of subsidies while promoting responsible electricity consumption.
While similar changes have been proposed for three-phase commercial consumers, specific rate details for this category are still awaited from the regulatory commission.
The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has begun updating its billing infrastructure to implement the changes, and officials at local offices have been directed to assist consumers with questions regarding the new tariff structure.
The revised system is part of the state’s broader effort to support low-income households through targeted subsidies while making higher consumption more accountable to actual power costs. Consumers are encouraged to review their usage and reach out to HPSEB offices for clarification on the new billing process.
