UP Energy Minister Slams UPPCL Chairman Over Unapproved Power Tariff Hike

Lucknow : In a major administrative showdown, Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma has strongly pulled up the Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), Ashish Kumar Goel, over a unilateral decision to levy a 10 percent fuel surcharge on consumers. The Minister expressed sharp displeasure in an official letter, questioning why such a sweeping financial decision was taken without his prior consent or knowledge.  

The controversy erupted after UPPCL quietly authorized a 10 percent Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge (FPPAS) to be added to consumer electricity bills starting from the June 2026 billing cycle. The surcharge was introduced to recover an additional Rs 1,610 crore resulting from increased power procurement and transmission costs incurred back in March.  "Why wasn't I informed?" Minister Sharma demanded in his communication, highlighting that he only learned about the major price hike through media reports and public backlash on social media platforms.

He noted that the unexpected financial burden imposed on citizens during the peak summer season has caused massive public resentment and invited intense negative publicity for the state government. Sharma warned the top bureaucrat that major policy decisions with wide-ranging public impact must always receive Ministerial clearance, directing that such administrative lapses must not happen again.

 The Minister's letter also flagged broader management issues, including the systematic removal of thousands of experienced, contractual linemen despite previous warnings against mass layoffs. Additionally, Sharma criticized the UPPCL Chairman for being physically absent from the headquarters during late May storms that caused severe grid damage, forcing critical restoration meetings to be held online. State regulatory authorities have now ordered UPPCL to submit comprehensive transparent calculations regarding the surcharge mechanism before June 19, 2026.