New Delhi: Delhiites may soon see changes in their electricity bills, as Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) plans to issue a revised power
tariff order by July this year. The process for revising electricity rates has already begun, as per officials. According a report by Times of India, even though the last power tariff order in Delhi was issued in September 2021, the electricity rates for consumer have remained unchanged since 2014. During this period, power distribution companies (discoms) have repeatedly argued that their costs have increased sharply, especially the cost of buying electricity, which they say has gone up by more than 20 per cent over the past decade. To move the process forward, DERC has issued a public notice proposing to extend its existing business plan regulations till the financial year 2026–27. Read More: Promised Rs 10,000, Still Waiting: How GRAP Curbs Pushed Delhi Labourers Into Hunger and Misery These regulations act as the foundation for deciding electricity tariffs and include rules on distribution losses, spending on infrastructure and efficiency targets for discoms. People and stakeholders have been invited to send their comments and suggestions on the proposal by January 27, the report noted. DERC is aiming to complete the entire tariff revision exercise by July. Will Your Electricity Bill Go Up? What this means for consumers is still uncertain. According to the report it is not yet clear whether electricity rates will increase or remain the same. The final decision will depend on a detailed review process. Under this process, each discom submits a petition to DERC explaining its expected expenses, revenue needs and any proposed tariff hike. DERC then checks these claims, examines efficiency levels and decides whether past losses can be recovered. These petitions are made public, and residents, consumer groups and housing associations can raise objections or share feedback through public hearings. Only after this does DERC announce the final electricity rates. Authorities have warned that delaying tariff revisions can actually hurt consumers in the long run. When electricity rates are not updated on time, discoms continue charging old rates even though their costs keep rising due to higher fuel prices, power purchase costs and transmission charges. This creates a revenue gap, the report added. Also Read: Delhi Weather To Turn Wet Today as IMD Predicts Rain; Will It Improve AQI or Intensify Winter Chill? "That gap doesn’t disappear," an official explained. "It gets carried forward with interest. When tariffs are finally revised, consumers may end up paying not just the increased cost, but also the accumulated interest, " he said as TOI report quoted. In simple terms, while a tariff hike may pinch households in the short term, repeated delays could lead to bigger bill shocks later. For now, Delhi residents will have to wait until July to know whether their monthly electricity bills will change, and by how much.
