The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has announced that for the months of November, December, and January 2023, it will levy a Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPPA) charge of 79 paisa per unit on all categories of consumers’ electricity bills.
According to an APDCL notice, the levy was imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment) Regulations, 2010.
According to the notice, the relevant bills will be generated in December 2022 and January and February 2023. It also stated that “all adjustments regarding short/excess recovery due to seasonal variation of consumption within the stipulated period will be adjusted in subsequent periods or as may be directed by the AERC.”
The notice also stated that “the adjustment will remain in force unless replaced by anyother order to that effect”.
When contacted by The Sentinel, an APDCL official stated that the power tariff is revised every three months based on fuel and power purchase prices. According to the official, the APDCL reduced the power tariff by 5 paisa per unit once in the last six months before increasing it by 30 paisa per unit.
According to the tariff adjustment formula, the latest increase should have been Rs 1.88 per unit, according to the official. The APDCL, on the other hand, has decided to limit the increase in power tariff to 79 paisa per unit.
When asked if the hike could be reduced further, the official stated that such a decision could only be made by senior APDCL officials in consultation with the state government.
According to the official, there are three categories of domestic consumers under the APDCL based on the amount of power consumed: one category (up to 120 units) is charged Rs 5.30 (less 75 paisa subsidy under a government scheme), the next (121-240 units) is charged Rs 6.60, and the last (over 241 units) is charged Rs 7.60. According to the official, a 79 paisa per unit increase will be applied to these three rates.