CPIM leader Ratan Das strongly opposed Tripura State Electricity Corporation’s proposal to hike power tariffs for domestic and commercial consumers, calling it unjustified and burdensome. The party accused TSECL of inefficiency and demanded better billing collection instead of higher rates.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM] has come down heavily on the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) for filing a petition before the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) seeking a substantial hike in electricity tariffs for both domestic and commercial consumers for the financial year 2025–26.
At a public hearing conducted by the TERC on Wednesday, CPIM State Secretariat member Ratan Das vehemently opposed the proposed tariff hike, terming it “anti-people” and “a move to burden the poor.” The hearing was part of the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) process, during which objections and suggestions from various consumer groups and stakeholders are formally recorded before final approval.
Das, representing CPIM as the principal opposition voice, alleged that the state-run power utility had failed to maintain efficiency and performance over the last several years. “We have raised multiple issues, including the steep fall in the state’s own power generation. In the last seven and a half years, no new power plant has been set up in Tripura that could contribute to the state’s generation capacity,” Das told the Commission.
According to Das, the power generation levels have drastically reduced since the Left Front government’s exit from power. “The power plants established during the Left regime have seen nearly a 64 percent drop in production, which is a glaring indicator of the present administration’s negligence,” he said.
The TSECL’s petition includes a proposal for a Time of the Day (TOD) tariff system, which would charge consumers differently based on the time of usage. The system categorizes “peak hours” as between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Under this, commercial consumers using more than 10 KW of power during these hours would have to pay 140 percent of the normal tariff, while domestic consumers would pay 110 percent of the standard rate.
Das argued that such a tariff structure disproportionately impacts ordinary consumers and small businesses. “The TSECL is trying to recover its inefficiencies by penalizing honest consumers. Instead of improving service quality and operational efficiency, they are passing the burden of their mismanagement onto the public,” he said.
He further criticized TSECL’s justification that operational costs and financial gaps from previous fiscal years necessitated the tariff revision. “Such excuses are unjustified. Our observation shows that nearly 25 percent of consumers are not paying their electricity bills. Instead of punishing those who pay regularly, TSECL should ensure 100 percent billing and collection efficiency,” Das asserted.
According to the MYT petition, TSECL has also proposed a 100 percent hike in fixed charges, which could significantly raise the monthly power bills for all categories of consumers. Notably, the power tariff in Tripura was last revised in 2024, sparking strong public protests across the state.
Consumer organizations have also raised objections to the proposal, calling it “unwarranted” amid economic distress and rising inflation. They argued that the proposed tariff revision would hit the middle class and small traders hardest, especially when there has been no visible improvement in the quality or consistency of electricity supply.
“Frequent power cuts, low voltage issues, and delayed maintenance are still rampant in many parts of Tripura. It is highly unfair to raise tariffs when service delivery remains poor,” said a consumer rights activist present at the hearing.
The CPIM has demanded that the TERC reject the TSECL’s petition in its current form and direct the power utility to improve operational efficiency, recover dues from defaulting consumers, and expand renewable energy production instead.
“The state government must focus on improving generation, upgrading transmission infrastructure, and promoting solar power projects rather than burdening consumers. Electricity is not a luxury — it is a basic need,” Das concluded.
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The Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission is expected to review all objections and finalize its decision on the proposed tariff hike in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the controversy has reignited a wider debate on the affordability and governance of essential utilities in Tripura.
