Guwahati: Electricity consumers in Assam will pay more for power from November after the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) approved a tariff hike to facilitate the recovery of accumulated fuel and power purchase price adjustment surcharge (FPPPAS). Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, however, has assured consumers that the increase will be withdrawn once the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) recovers its losses.

Speaking to reporters at Vajpayee Bhawan on Tuesday, Sarma said the revision would remain in effect for five months and is not intended to become a permanent increase in electricity tariffs.

“When we recover the losses, it would be withdrawn. The way it has been projected that it would be a big hike, it’s not like that. I am saying, it won’t be over five paise,” he said.

Explaining the reasons behind the revision, Sarma linked the increase to rising power procurement costs amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia and higher oil prices.

“When oil prices go up, we have to buy power at increased rates. Because of West Asia turmoil, oil prices have gone up. Till yesterday, it was Rs 115 per barrel,” he said, adding that electricity can not not be supplied for free when procurement costs increase.

The tariff adjustment follows a petition filed by APDCL before the AERC seeking approval for the staggered recovery of accumulated FPPPAS for the financial year 2026-27.

Variations in power purchase costs during the five-month period from April to August 2026 resulted in an accumulated FPPPAS of approximately Rs 156 crore, excluding supplementary bills, according to the information submitted to the commission.

APDCL had proposed a five-month staggered recovery schedule, from November 2026 to March 2027, to recover the accumulated amount.

The approved revision varies across consumer categories. Low-tension (LT) consumers in the Jeevandhara and domestic categories with sanctioned loads below 30 kW will face an increase of Rs 0.05 per unit.

Other LT consumer categories will see an increase of around Rs 0.30 per unit, while high-tension (HT) consumers with loads above 20 kW will also pay Rs 0.30 more per unit.

Sarma reiterated that the increase is a temporary measure and would be withdrawn after APDCL recover its losses, seeking to allay concerns over a sustained rise in electricity costs.