BENGALURU: True-up electricity charges would be announced by mid-April, but will be effective from April 1, said Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) Chairman P Ravi Kumar.
True-up charges will be different for each of the five Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in the state.
The KERC has not issued a notification seeking public opinion in this regard. “True-up revision is based on the consumption in 2024-25 and the financial condition of the electricity supply companies. It also depends upon fuel adjustment charges, the coal stock, the grid condition, transmission losses and operation and maintenance costs. This year it will also include government’s share of pension and gratuity amount which consumers have to bear,” officials in KERC said.
This is the first time true-up charges have been introduced in Karnataka.
The last time fuel adjustment charges were announced was in 2022-23. The KERC on March 27, 2025 had issued tariff orders for three financial years. The KERC had announced to hike the fixed charges by Rs 25 across boards. It had also included the 36 paise per unit pension and gratuity surcharge (government’s contribution) order which was issued on March 19, 2025.
Experts working with the government said, “Though KERC is an independent body, it is functioning on the directions of the government. The elections and the model code of conduct should have no impact on the KERC. Work on the trueing up exercise had started during the last financial year itself. The KERC is also well versed with the losses that the ESCOMs and KPTCL have claimed regularly. Delay in announcement is not right.”