Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh Power Shock: Subsidy Withdrawn for 125–300 Units, Electricity Bills to Rise by ₹300 Monthly
In a move that is likely to hit household budgets across the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has withdrawn the electricity subsidy for consumers falling in the 125–300 unit consumption slab for the current financial year.
In a move that is likely to hit household budgets across the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has withdrawn the electricity subsidy for consumers falling in the 125–300 unit consumption slab for the current financial year.
The decision has effectively reversed last year’s relief, leading to a noticeable increase in monthly power bills for a large section of domestic consumers.
⚡ What Has Changed?
Until last year, consumers in the 125–300 unit category enjoyed a subsidy of 1.73 per unit. This brought down the effective rate to 4.17 per unit. However, with the subsidy now removed, consumers will have to pay 5.89 per unit — a sharp increase despite a marginal tariff reduction of one paise per unit for 2026–27.
In simple terms, households crossing the 125-unit mark will now pay approximately 1.72 more per unit than before.
💡 Who Still Gets Relief?
There is some relief for low-consumption households:
- Consumers using up to 125 units/month will continue to receive zero electricity bills.
- For those exceeding 125 units, the first 125 units will still be charged at a subsidized rate of 2.07 per unit.
📊 Impact on Households
According to electricity board estimates:
- Around 6 lakh consumers out of nearly 24 lakh domestic users will be directly affected.
- Families consuming up to 300 units may see an increase of nearly 300 per month in their electricity bills.
This change effectively reduces the previous three-tier billing system into just two categories — up to 125 units and above 125 units, removing the middle slab advantage.
⚠️ New Rules You Should Know
- Subsidy benefits will now be limited to only two electricity meters per household in a financial year.
- The government will continue reimbursing the subsidy amount to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.
🏠 Relief for Economically Weaker Families
In a targeted relief measure, the government has approved full subsidy for the poorest one lakh families. These households will continue to receive zero electricity bills for consumption up to 300 units, but only on a single meter.
The list of eligible beneficiaries will soon be shared with the electricity board for implementation.
