By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 21, 2026
Agartala, Aug 21 (FD) In a major relief for electricity consumers across Tripura, the State Government has decided to bear 100 per cent of the additional financial burden arising from the revised electricity tariff for 2026-27, ensuring that eligible consumers are not required to pay the increased amount.
Announcing the decision at a press conference on Friday, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the additional burden resulting from the tariff revision approved by the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) would be fully subsidised by the State Government.
TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Basu was also present at the press conference.
The decision is expected to benefit more than 10 lakh electricity consumer families across Tripura, including domestic consumers, farmers, small traders, commercial establishments and industrial consumers.
Nath said the revised electricity tariff had come into effect from May 2026, following the tariff order issued by the TERC. However, the Government subsequently decided that the additional burden arising from the revision should not be passed on to the people.
“We have understood the suffering of the people. We will not allow this additional burden to remain on the shoulders of the people of Tripura. The Government will bear the burden,” the Power Minister said.
Excess Amount to Be Adjusted Over Three Months
Addressing concerns of consumers who had already paid electricity bills at the revised rates, Nath said the additional amount collected from them would be adjusted against their future electricity bills.
The adjustment will be made over three months and reflected in the electricity bills issued in September, October and November, he said.
The announcement is likely to bring significant relief to thousands of households and businesses that had expressed concern over higher electricity bills, particularly following an increase in the fixed charge component under the revised tariff structure.
Government Cannot Directly Alter TERC Tariff
Explaining the legal and regulatory framework governing electricity tariffs, Nath said neither the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) nor the State Government directly determines electricity rates.
Under the Electricity Act, 2003, the responsibility for determining tariffs rests with the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission, an independent regulatory and quasi-judicial body.
TSECL places its financial requirements, expenditure and other relevant details before the Commission, which subsequently undertakes scrutiny and follows the prescribed regulatory process before issuing a tariff order.
“The State Government cannot simply alter a tariff fixed by the independent regulatory authority,” Nath explained.
However, the Government can provide financial support or subsidy to protect eligible consumers from the impact of a tariff increase, and the latest decision has been taken under this approach.
CM's Intervention Credited for Decision
The Power Minister credited Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha for the decision, saying the Government's intervention was possible because of the Chief Minister's sensitive and positive approach towards the difficulties faced by the people.
“The reduction of the additional electricity tariff burden was possible because of the positive mentality of our Chief Minister, Prof. Dr. Manik Saha,” Nath said.
According to him, the Chief Minister personally took the matter seriously and held repeated discussions with senior officials to examine ways of providing relief to consumers.
Nath said Saha made it clear that the people of Tripura should not be subjected to an unbearable additional financial burden.
The Minister said the Chief Minister had given priority to the issue and remained actively involved in discussions aimed at finding a solution.
Relief for Households, Farmers and Businesses
Nath said the Government had carefully considered the concerns raised by consumers after the implementation of the revised tariff, particularly complaints regarding higher electricity bills and the increase in fixed charges.
The revised tariff had caused anxiety among households, farmers, small shopkeepers, commercial establishments and other categories of consumers, he acknowledged.
He said the State Government would provide a 100 per cent subsidy on the additional tariff burden for all eligible categories of consumers.
However, certain categories, including railway traction, would remain outside the scope of the subsidy, as announced at the press conference.
Referring to the broader background of electricity tariff revisions, Nath said consumers in Tripura had not faced any major tariff increase for several years despite rising costs associated with power procurement and supply.
According to him, increasing costs, changing international circumstances and regulatory and legal requirements eventually made a revision of the electricity tariff necessary.
He also referred to legal and regulatory developments, including the need for electricity regulatory commissions to ensure that tariffs reflect the actual cost of power supply.
Despite these constraints, Nath stressed that the State Government had taken a clear policy decision not to transfer the additional financial burden of the latest tariff revision to ordinary consumers.
The decision to absorb the entire additional burden is being seen as a significant intervention by the State Government and is expected to provide substantial relief to more than 10 lakh consumer families across Tripura. FD JK