April Electricity Tariff Hike: MP Power Rates to Rise by 4.8% from April 1 — Check Your New Bill

 Just when households were bracing for the summer heat, there is unwelcome news from the power sector. The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) has approved a 4.8% hike in electricity tariffs for the financial year 2026-27, effective from April 1, 2026 .

The revised rates mean that consumers, particularly those with higher electricity usage, will see an impact on their bills starting May 2026 . The Commission's decision comes as a partial relief to consumers, considering power distribution companies (DISCOMs) had initially sought a much steeper increase of 10.19% to cover losses exceeding ₹6,000 crore .

Who Will Be Affected? Understanding the New Slabs

The tariff hike is not uniform across all consumer categories. The Commission has provided some relief to low-income and rural households while increasing the burden on middle-class families with higher consumption .

Consumers Protected from the Hike:

• LV-1 Category & Rural Households: No change in existing tariffs .

• Consumption up to 100 Units: Existing concessions will continue .

• Low-Income Group (LT4 Category): Existing rates remain unchanged .

Consumers Who Will Face Higher Bills:
The biggest impact will be felt by consumers who use more than 100 units per month. Once consumption crosses 150 units, both the fixed charges and the per-unit energy charges will increase .

Source: ETV Bharat / Aaj Tak 

Fixed Charges and Peak Hour Pricing: Key Changes to Note

1. Increased Fixed Charges
The monthly fixed charges have been increased from ₹28 to ₹30 per 0.1 kW of sanctioned load . This means that even if you use less electricity in a particular month, the fixed component of your bill will be higher.

2. Time of Day (TOD) Tariff
Electricity will now be costlier during peak hours. The Commission has enforced a Time of Day (TOD) tariff system, under which power used between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM will be charged at a higher rate . Consumers using appliances like air conditioners, geysers, and washing machines during this window could see their bills increase by an additional 10-20% .

3. Smart Meter Users Get Relief
To encourage energy efficiency, the Commission has announced a 20% rebate for smart meter users during off-peak daytime hours . This is a significant incentive for consumers to shift heavy power usage to daytime.

Impact on Other Consumer Categories

The tariff hike is not limited to domestic users. Industrial and commercial consumers have also seen an increase in both fixed and energy charges .

• Industrial Consumers: Fixed charges at the 11 kV level have been raised from ₹363/kVA to ₹409/kVA. Energy charges have increased from ₹6.50/kWh to ₹6.79/kWh .

• Commercial Consumers: Fixed charges at the 11 kV level rose from ₹363/kVA to ₹373/kVA. Energy charges increased from ₹6.95/kWh to ₹7.25/kWh .

• EV Charging Stations: In a move to promote green mobility, the tariff for electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery-swapping stations has been set at ₹7.44/kWh .

• Green Energy: Consumers opting for green energy to reduce their carbon footprint will pay an additional charge of ₹0.30/kWh .

Why Did the Tariff Increase?

The power distribution companies had proposed a 10.19% tariff hike, citing a massive revenue gap of around ₹6,044 crore in the previous financial year . The Commission, after reviewing stakeholder objections and exercising prudence, limited the increase to 4.8% .

For comparison, tariffs were increased by 3.46% in the previous financial year (2025–26) .

Political Reaction

The tariff hike has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the hike, describing it as a "direct assault on the pockets of the common people" . The Congress has warned of a statewide agitation if the government does not roll back the decision .

Tips to Manage Your Electricity Expenses

With the new rates coming into effect, here are some ways to keep your bill from ballooning:

• Check Your Sanctioned Load: Optimize your sanctioned load to avoid higher fixed charges .

• Avoid Peak Hours: Shift use of heavy appliances like washing machines, geysers, and ACs to daytime (outside 6 PM–10 PM) .

• Pay Bills Online: Incentives for online and timely bill payments remain unchanged .

• Consider Smart Meters: If you have a smart meter, take advantage of the 20% daytime rebate .

The Bottom Line

The 4.8% electricity tariff hike in Madhya Pradesh, effective April 1, 2026, will increase the financial burden on middle-class families, especially during the peak summer months. While the government has provided relief to low-income groups and those consuming up to 100 units, households with higher usage will need to carefully manage their power consumption to avoid bill shocks.