Haryana regulator rejects discoms' Rs 1,134 crore fuel surcharge claim

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has rejected a petition filed by the state's power distribution companies seeking to recover a fuel surcharge amounting to Rs 1,134 crore. The surcharge, which the discoms argued was necessary to offset rising fuel costs, was presented to the regulator for approval. HERC, after reviewing the submission, concluded that the justification provided did not meet the regulatory criteria for a surcharge recovery. Consequently, the discoms will have to bear the additional fuel expenses without passing them on to consumers. The decision underscores the regulator's strict stance on protecting consumer tariffs in the state.