Electricity Price Hike: Congress Demands Full Accounts as 3.99% Extra Surcharge Hits Gujarat Power Bills

AHMEDABAD — The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has hit out at the Gujarat government and state power distribution companies over an extra financial burden slapped on electricity consumers under Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge (FPPAS). Demanding complete transparency in power generation and procurement accounts, the opposition party revealed that September electricity bills will collect retroactive charges dating back to July 2026.

Addressing media persons, Congress spokesperson and media convenor Dr Manish Doshi stated that under the revised tariff framework effective from 1 July 2026, consumers are paying a base FPPAS rate of ₹2.45 per unit alongside an added 3.99 per cent variable surcharge. The revised rates affect residential homes, commercial shops, offices, and factories across the state, with only agricultural power connections spared from the hike.

Quarter-on-Quarter Jump in Power Adjustment Charges

Highlighting the steep increase in fuel adjustment charges between consecutive quarters, Dr Doshi outlined the exact shift in billing calculations:

• April to June 2026: Base FPPAS charge stood at ₹2.30 per unit, while the variable surcharge remained at zero per cent.
• July 2026 Onwards: Base FPPAS charge increased to ₹2.45 per unit, coupled with a 3.99 per cent variable surcharge.
• September Bill Impact: Because the new tariff came into force on 1 July, power distribution companies are collecting arrears for July and August within the September billing cycle.

Questions Over Complex Surcharge Calculation Base

Congress leaders questioned the logic of levying a 3.99 per cent variable surcharge on top of the higher ₹2.45 base charge. Dr Doshi pointed out that the variable surcharge calculation encompasses not just the main energy consumption charges, but also incorporates the base FPPAS itself alongside applicable fixed or demand charges, significantly swelling total bill amounts for inflation-hit families.

"If FPPAS rates are adjusted according to fluctuating power procurement costs from coal, gas, and other fuel sources, the government and power companies must publicly disclose the precise mathematical basis and full financial accounting used to calculate these hikes," Dr Doshi demanded, insisting that power bills provide clear, itemised breakdowns for consumers.