Tariff shock: Industrial power bills rise by 50% in Gurugram, Faridabad

A sharp hike in electricity tariffs has sparked outrage among industrialists in Gurugram and Faridabad, with associations claiming their power bills have risen by nearly 50%. The hike, approved by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), is being seen as a blow to over 25,000 industrial units, particularly the 12,000+ MSMEs operating in the twin NCR cities.

Advertisement

The industrial associations have approached Industry Minister Rao Narbir Singh, seeking urgent intervention. They argue that the average cost of electricity has risen to over Rs 10 per unit, compared to Rs 8.80 in Noida and Rs 9 in Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) — putting Haryana at a disadvantage.

“The MSMEs have been hit very hard. Power is one of the biggest operational costs for a small industry. If your monthly bill doubles, how do you survive? We have wages to pay, loans to repay. Many small industries won’t last the year at these rates,” said Animesh Saxena, member of the Garment Industry Association.

A DHBVN spokesperson, when contacted, said the hike was implemented in April after discussions with industry stakeholders. “We held a meeting with industrial representatives and the hike was introduced after their approval,” the official claimed.

However, industrialists refuted the assertion. “Yes, we were part of the HERC meeting, but there was no agreement on hiking fixed charges or other hidden components,” said Sumit Rao, general secretary of the Gurgaon Industrial Association.

“Haryana has always been supportive of industries, but this hike will literally kill us. We asked why industries don’t get 24-hour power supply despite paying fixed charges, and instead of addressing that, the fixed charges themselves were doubled. Who will set up a business in Gurugram now? The government needs to rethink this or risk an exodus to Noida or other regions,” he added.

Industrialists also pointed out the double whammy they face — rising tariffs and restrictions on backup generators due to CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) directives. “With gensets restricted and power unaffordable, we are being squeezed from all sides,” said another MSME owner.

When contacted, Industry Minister Rao Narbir Singh said, “I will look into the concerns raised and do whatever is best for the industrial growth of the state.”