Agartala, Oct 29: The CPIM has strongly objected to the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited’s (TSECL) proposal to increase power tariffs for both domestic and commercial consumers for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
During a public hearing conducted by the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) on Wednesday, CPIM state secretariat member Ratan Das voiced sharp criticism against the state-owned utility’s Multi Year Tariff (MYT) petition, calling it an attempt to impose an unjustified financial burden on the public.
Das argued that the TSECL had failed to boost power generation capacity in recent years. “In the past seven and a half years, no new power plant has been established in Tripura. Moreover, power generation from the plants commissioned during the Left regime has dropped by nearly 64 percent,” he said.
The CPIM leader also objected to the proposed Time of the Day (TOD) tariff system, under which commercial consumers using more than 10 KW of power during peak hours (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) would be charged 140 percent of the normal rate, while domestic users would pay 110 percent. “This move unfairly targets small traders and households who are already struggling with rising costs,” Das said.
He further dismissed TSECL’s justification that the tariff hike was needed to cover operational expenses and revenue gaps from previous financial years. “Around 25 percent of consumers are not paying their bills. Instead of penalizing honest consumers, TSECL should ensure 100 percent billing efficiency,” he asserted.
According to the petition, TSECL has also sought a 100 percent hike in fixed charges. The last tariff revision took place in 2024, sparking widespread public discontent — a situation the opposition warns could repeat if the new proposal is approved.
