JSERC Approves 6.12% Power Tariff Hike for FY 2026-27; New High Tension Commercial Category Introduced

The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) has issued its much-anticipated Retail Supply Tariff Order for FY 2026-27. While the state run utility Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) had sought a massive 59% increase to bridge its revenue gap, the Commission has opted for a far more balanced 6.12% average hike to protect consumer interests while ensuring utility viability.

Key Changes for Industrial and Commercial Consumers:

The new order introduces several structural changes that will impact the “landed cost” of power for high load consumers:

• High Tension (HT) Industrial: Energy charges have been revised upward by 8.5%, moving from ₹5.90/kVAh to ₹6.40/kVAh. The fixed charge remains stable at ₹400/kVA/month.
• Low Tension (LT) Industrial: Energy charges increased by 8.2%, now at ₹6.60/kVAh (up from ₹6.10/kVAh).
• New “HT Commercial” Category: In a first for the state, JSERC has introduced a dedicated High-Tension category for large commercial establishments like shopping malls, multiplexes, and large hospitals, with a flat tariff of ₹8.00/kVAh.
• Institutionalized Rebates: To improve DISCOM cash flow, a 2% rebate is now available for bills paid within 5 days of invoice generation. Furthermore, consumers switching to prepaid smart meters will receive an additional 3% rebate on energy charges.

Impact on Open Access and Renewable Energy:

For those exploring alternative energy procurement, the order provides critical benchmarks:

• Green Energy Tariff: The Commission has approved a Green Energy Tariff of ₹0.95 per unit, allowing consumers to voluntarily opt for 100% renewable power from the DISCOM.
• Rooftop Solar Tariffs: To incentivize the “PM Surya Ghar” initiative, the feed-in tariffs remain attractive at ₹4.16/kWh for Gross Metering and ₹3.80/kWh for Net Metering.
• EV Charging Rates: Public EV charging stations have been granted a concessional rate of ₹7.00/unit during solar hours (9 AM to 4 PM) and ₹8.70/unit during non-solar hours.

Open Access Surcharges:

While the specific cross-subsidy and additional surcharge values are being calculated per the new ARR (Aggregate Revenue Requirement) of ₹10,832.7 crore, the Commission has signaled a tightening of distribution losses (approved at 13% vs JBVNL’s 25.6%), which suggests that surcharge levels will be more stringently regulated to prevent “over-recovery” from Open Access consumers.