Agartala, 9th June 2026: Concerns over repeated electricity tariff hikes, deteriorating services, and the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, have triggered strong opposition from consumer and employee organizations across the country. In Tripura, activists and stakeholders have appealed to consumers to unite and raise their voices against what they describe as anti-consumer policies aimed at privatizing the power sector.
According to the campaigners, electricity was once treated as a public service and supplied at affordable rates. However, they alleged that the sector is increasingly being transformed into a profit-oriented business, benefiting private corporations at the expense of ordinary consumers. The proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has come under particular criticism for provisions such as the gradual abolition of cross-subsidies, introduction of cost-reflective tariffs, time-of-day tariff systems, and greater participation of private suppliers in electricity distribution.
The organizations claim that these measures would significantly increase electricity costs for low-income households and agricultural consumers while favoring industrial users. They also warned that privatization would encourage private companies to focus only on profitable urban markets, leaving public utilities burdened with rural and loss-making areas.
Criticism was also directed at the functioning of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL). The organizations alleged that since 2018, the corporation has suffered from declining administrative, financial, and technical management. They pointed to tariff increases through Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA), duty charges, fixed charges, and other levies that have placed an additional burden on consumers.
The statement further alleged that inadequate maintenance of state-owned power projects, rising AT&C losses, staff shortages, and dependence on private agencies have contributed to the corporation’s financial difficulties. It claimed that these shortcomings have ultimately resulted in higher costs being passed on to consumers.
To address consumer grievances and safeguard employee interests, the Tripura State Electricity Consumers and Employees Welfare Association has been formed. The association aims to create a platform where consumers can collectively raise issues related to billing disputes, load shedding, faulty meters, delays in new connections, and other service-related concerns.
Calling for unity among consumers, the organization demanded the immediate withdrawal of recent electricity tariff hikes, affordable electricity for all, protection of public sector power utilities, and the scrapping of the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025. It reiterated that “an organized consumer means secured rights” and urged citizens to participate in collective efforts to protect consumer interests.
