• Source:JND
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As North India grapples with a severe heatwave, with temperatures already soaring past 39 degrees C, the demand for cooling appliances like air conditioners and coolers has surged sharply. Delhi, in particular, is enduring extremely hot conditions with no immediate relief from rain.

Amid this rising demand, a major development could further strain household budgets. An electricity tribunal has directed Delhi’s power regulator to initiate recovery of Rs 38,552 crore in deferred costs from consumers, which will potentially lead to significantly higher power bills in the coming months.

According to a Times of India report, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) on Monday instructed the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to begin liquidating accumulated regulatory assets worth Rs 38,552 crore within three weeks.

These dues date back to 2007 and represent costs incurred by power distribution companies (discoms) that were not passed on to consumers, as electricity tariffs in Delhi have remained unchanged since 2014-15. Over the years, the unpaid amount has steadily increased.

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Regulatory assets arise when the cost of supplying electricity, including procurement, transmission, and distribution, exceeds the revenue collected from consumers. Instead of revising tariffs, successive governments allowed this gap to build up.

Over time, the outstanding amount ballooned to Rs 38,552 crore, with interest further adding to the burden. Now, following a Supreme Court order issued in October 2025, the entire sum must be recovered from consumers in a phased manner by March 31, 2031, which translates into years of higher surcharges on electricity bills, the report noted.

DERC’s affidavit submitted to APTEL in January 2026 breaks down the liability as Rs 19,174 crore for BRPL, Rs 12,333 crore for BYPL, and Rs 7,046 crore for TPDDL, which are Delhi’s three key discoms. Consumers across the capital will ultimately contribute to clearing these dues.

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The report adds that DERC may move the Supreme Court seeking more time. Meanwhile, the tribunal has directed the regulator to appoint a chartered accountant within a week to conduct a detailed audit of discom accounts within three months. The Delhi government had not responded to the order as of Monday.

For residents, the impact could be significant: rising temperatures leading to higher electricity consumption, coupled with the added burden of increased tariffs in the years ahead.


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