UERC Rejects UPCL Petition, Upholds Tariff Order And Regulatory Principles In Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has delivered a key ruling that reaffirms its commitment to upholding existing electricity regulations in the state. In an order dated September 3, 2025, the Commission rejected a petition filed by the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL), which had sought relaxation of certain provisions in the Tariff Order issued earlier this year on April 11, 2025. The decision was issued by the UERC Chairman and Member (Law). The petition, filed as Miscellaneous Application No. 63 of 2025, primarily dealt with requests for relief in the area of power procurement.

UPCL had argued that there were practical difficulties in implementing parts of the Tariff Order and asked the Commission to use its powers to grant relaxation from certain requirements. The utility requested that specific provisions be eased to allow for smoother operations and claimed that the existing regulatory framework needed adjustments. However, after reviewing the matter in detail, UERC concluded that the issues raised by UPCL were already fully addressed in the prevailing regulations and that there was no genuine difficulty that warranted the kind of relaxation sought.

The Commission made it clear in its order that granting UPCL’s request would undermine the established regulatory principles and contradict the spirit of the Electricity Act, which forms the basis of electricity governance in India. UERC further emphasized that providing such relaxation would not only affect UPCL as a distribution company but also have wider consequences for consumers across the state. In its reasoning, the Commission highlighted that the reliefs sought by UPCL did not meet the required criteria for consideration, and therefore, the petition had no merit.

The rejection means that Miscellaneous Application No. 63 of 2025 stands disposed of, and the Tariff Order issued on April 11, 2025, continues to remain in force without any changes. By firmly dismissing the petition, UERC has underlined its role as a regulator that protects the larger interests of consumers and ensures that the electricity sector operates under a transparent and consistent legal framework.

The Commission’s decision also reflects its unwillingness to dilute regulations based on individual requests from utilities, especially when the current framework already provides adequate solutions. It made clear that exceptions cannot be made when the law and regulations are sufficient to cover the concerns raised. UERC’s order signals a strong message to power utilities that regulatory discipline must be maintained, and that attempts to seek relaxation outside the bounds of the Act will not be entertained.

The process also saw the participation of other stakeholders, including an industrial advisor from M/s Kashi Vishwanath Textile Mill (P) Ltd., though their role was limited to representation. The core focus remained on UPCL’s request and its dismissal. For consumers and industries in Uttarakhand, the decision ensures that the power procurement guidelines established in the Tariff Order remain intact and are implemented as originally designed. This strengthens regulatory certainty in the state’s power sector and underscores UERC’s responsibility in maintaining fairness and stability in electricity governance.