Power Bills May Rise In Delhi As Tribunal Rejects Plea On Rs 30,000 Crore Dues

Electricity bills in Delhi are likely to go up after the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) refused to delay recovery of around Rs 30,000 crore in pending dues.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had asked for more time to clear these dues so that the burden on consumers could be spread over a longer period. However, the tribunal rejected the request, meaning the repayment will now follow the existing timeline.

Why Bills May Increase

The dues are linked to past unpaid costs owed to power distribution companies. Since tariffs were kept low for years, these costs were not fully recovered.

With the tribunal’s order, authorities may now have to recover the amount faster. This could lead to higher electricity tariffs or additional charges in bills.

Supreme Court’s Role

The issue stems from a Supreme Court direction issued in 2025. The court had asked all states to clear such dues between 2024 and 2028 and allowed tariff hikes if needed.

Delhi has had relatively low power tariffs in recent years, but with dues piling up, the cost will now have to be recovered. Experts say the impact could be seen through tariff hikes, government subsidies, or a mix of both. Either way, consumers may see upward pressure on their monthly bills.

Rs 38,000+ Crore Dues And Long Tariff Freeze

The larger issue involves regulatory assets — costs that discoms were allowed to recover later. These have crossed ₹38,000 crore due to years without tariff revision.

These dues built up because electricity prices were not increased for nearly a decade, even as costs rose. Interest on delayed recovery added to the total burden. The recovery is expected to happen over several years, possibly through a surcharge on electricity bills.