Relief for Steel Industry, Protection for Households, No Burden on Farmers
Team News Riveting
Raipur, July 16
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a power tariff hike of only 1.89 per cent for the financial year 2025–26, making it one of the lowest increases in recent years.
The decision, taken transparently following a public hearing, has been well-received by domestic consumers as well as industrial groups like steel and rolling mill associations. The Chief Minister highlighted that domestic electricity rates have seen only a marginal increase of 10 to 20 paise per unit, while agricultural pump consumers will see a 50 paise per unit hike — which will not affect farmers directly, as the state government is already covering this cost through advance subsidy payments.
He reaffirmed, “Our goal is to ensure that farmers in Chhattisgarh do not bear any extra financial burden. The government remains fully committed to protecting the interests of our farming community.” Sai added that to enhance industrial competitiveness, the state has reduced power tariffs for energy-intensive sectors such as mini steel plants, rolling mills, and ferro-alloy units. This step, he said, reflects the state government’s strong commitment to industrial growth.
Highlighting supply improvements, the CM noted that urban areas are receiving 23.85 hours/day and rural areas 23.45 hours/day of electricity. Agriculture feeders are being provided 18 hours/day, among the highest in the country. The state has also made impressive gains in reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, which fell from 23.14 per cent in 2020–21 to 13.79 per cent in 2024–25 — a result of efficient operations, transparency, and technical upgrades.
The current tariff includes a Capital Investment Plan that allocates Rs 2,433 crore for the transmission company, Rs 3,977 crore for the distribution company, and Rs 2,992 crore for the generation company. Additionally, a 1320 MW power plant is already underway in Korba, with an investment of Rs 15,800 crore. This project will help Chhattisgarh become a power-surplus state and ensure uninterrupted supply.
The Chief Minister also announced that under the PM Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, households can avail up to Rs 78,000 central subsidy for up to 3 kW solar plants, along with an additional Rs 30,000 from the state for up to 2 kW systems. He called this a revolutionary step towards making Chhattisgarh’s homes energy self-reliant.
The Chief Minister shared that power companies and the state government have signed MoUs worth over Rs 3 lakh crore, which will trigger a surge in energy production and create massive employment opportunities.
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment: “Our top priority is to provide consumers not just uninterrupted electricity, but power that is high-quality, affordable, and sustainable. With the ongoing and upcoming initiatives, Chhattisgarh is set to emerge as a national benchmark in the energy sector.”
