Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) members took to the streets on Saturday in Tinsukia district to fight rising electricity costs. Protesters gathered in Doomdooma and Makum to burn effigies of the state Power Minister. They targeted the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) over prepaid smart meter glitches and new surcharges.
Demonstrators argued that extra fees crush average families. One protester stated, "The government cannot impose additional financial burdens on people in the name of power tariff adjustments." The group demanded immediate relief for consumers struggling with opaque billing cycles.
The tension stems from a move by the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission to let APDCL collect Rs 155.59 crore in Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment Surcharge. This covers costs from April to August 2026. Utility companies will claw back this cash in phases from November 2026 through March 2027.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the surcharge a temporary fix. He claimed the hike amounts to 4 to 5 paise per unit. He promised to scrap the charge once conditions stabilize. Critics remain unconvinced. They want the state to fix faulty meters and stop what they call exploitation. AASU warned it will keep the pressure on until the government cleans up its act.
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