Chandigarh, Mar 25 (PTI) The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) on Wednesday decided to keep the power tariff unchanged for the 2026-“27 financial year, providing relief to over 83.79 lakh consumers in the state.

The revised tariff will come into effect from April 1, 2026.

The decision was taken after hearings on the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) petitions filed by Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVNL) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVNL), which had projected a revenue gap of about Rs 4,484.71 crore.

Despite the projected gap, the Commission opted not to increase tariffs, citing strong opposition from consumers during public hearings.

HERC said the ARR has been kept revenue-neutral by improving efficiency in revenue collection, receivables management, power procurement and reduction in losses.

The tariff order was signed by HERC Chairman Nand Lal Sharma and members Mukesh Garg and Shiv Kumar.

The Commission held public hearings on January 8 in Panchkula and conducted field hearings in Gurugram, Panipat, Hisar and Yamunanagar before finalising the order.

HERC also issued directions to improve efficiency in the power sector, including restructuring the Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) for more transparent and cost-effective procurement. It emphasised demand-side management to address fluctuations in demand, which currently vary between 3,000 MW and 5,000 MW between peak and off-peak periods.

The Commission fixed distribution losses of UHBVNL at 9.30 per cent, lower than the proposed 9.85 per cent, and directed DISCOMs to focus on feeder-level monitoring to reduce losses.

A provision of Rs 7,870.32 crore has been made for state subsidy for agricultural tubewell supply. Farmers will pay only 10 paise per unit against the actual cost of Rs 7.48 per unit.

In a relief to farmers, applicants for tubewell connections up to 10 BHP till December 31, 2023, will be allowed to enhance their load without losing seniority. The one-time facility will be available till May 31, 2026.

The Commission also directed DISCOMs to install EV charging stations in Panchkula, Faridabad, Panipat, Karnal and Gurugram. It noted that the existing Time of Day tariff is ineffective and asked DISCOMs to submit a revised proposal.

Consumers using prepaid smart meters will get a 5 per cent rebate on energy and fixed charges, it added. PTI VSD MR

Power tariff unchanged as the commission prioritizes revenue neutrality, loss reduction, and efficiency in electricity distribution. The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission kept power tariff unchanged for the 2026-27 financial year and treated the Annual Revenue Requirement of the distribution licensees as revenue-neutral despite a projected revenue gap. The order linked the decision to improved efficiency in revenue collection, receivables management, power procurement and loss reduction, while also fixing distribution loss levels and directing feeder-level monitoring to curb losses.