Electricity bill recovery continues to be a major challenge in Uttarakhand, with dues under Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) increasing by ₹513 crore in the past five years. The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has expressed serious concern over the rising arrears and has directed UPCL to submit a detailed action plan within a month.
According to official figures, UPCL’s Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) for 2024–25 was ₹10,690.03 crore. However, outstanding dues from consumers have reached ₹2,157.62 crore — more than 20% of the utility’s total revenue requirement. The commission has acknowledged that this unpaid amount represents a substantial 20.18% of the ARR.
In 2021, UPCL had dues amounting to ₹1,643.87 crore from 2,73,076 consumers. By 2022, the number of defaulters rose to 3,01,960, with outstanding payments of ₹1,886.9 crore. In 2023, the amount stood at ₹1,878.64 crore from 3,11,369 consumers. As of December 2024, unpaid bills reached ₹2,157.62 crore, now involving 3,66,951 consumers.
The regulatory commission has called this trend alarming and emphasized the urgent need for UPCL to enhance its recovery mechanism. An official action plan is expected within 30 days to address this growing concern.
