Patna: Electricity consumers in Bihar are set to receive significant relief after the state regulator decided against any increase in power tariffs, keeping existing rates unchanged from April 1.
The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) rejected a proposal by power distribution companies to raise tariffs by 35 paise per unit, citing the financial position of the utilities and the need to avoid burdening consumers.
The decision was announced on Wednesday by the Commission’s chairman, Amir Subhani, in the presence of members Arun Kumar Sinha and Parshuram Singh Yadav, following hearings in which all stakeholders presented their arguments.
In its order, the Commission noted that the electricity utility was operating at a profit, and concluded that a tariff increase was not justified. It said imposing additional costs on consumers would be inappropriate under the current circumstances.
Alongside freezing tariffs, the Commission introduced structural changes aimed at simplifying the billing system and improving equity. A uniform tariff has now been applied to both urban and rural domestic consumers, replacing the earlier system of differentiated rates.
The Commission also consolidated tariff slabs for domestic users into a single category, a move intended to make billing more transparent and easier to understand.
The changes are expected to provide measurable financial relief across categories. Urban domestic consumers could see savings of up to Rs 1.53 per unit, while rural commercial users will benefit from a reduction of 42 paise per unit. Urban commercial consumers are also expected to see a decrease of Rs 1.20 per unit in their electricity bills.
Subhani also said that consumers will continue to avail concessions/exemptions announced in the current year’s tariff rate (2025-26).
In total, around 2.7 million consumers are likely to benefit from the revised structure, according to officials.
