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The disparity between power bills in Delhi and UP is stark, and it’s rooted in both pricing structure and government subsidies
As temperatures soar across Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh, so do the electricity bills, particularly for residents of Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida
As temperatures soar across Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh, so do the electricity bills, particularly for residents of Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida, where power tariffs are leaving households significantly more strained than their counterparts in Delhi. From March to November, electricity consumption spikes dramatically in the NCR as fans and air conditioners run for hours to combat the sweltering heat. And now, with talks of another hike in electricity tariffs in Uttar Pradesh, the financial pinch could grow even sharper.
How Much More Do You Pay Compared to Delhi?
The disparity between power bills in Delhi and UP is stark, and it’s rooted in both pricing structure and government subsidies. To understand the gap, let’s consider a typical summer household setup: one ceiling fan and one 1.5-ton 5-star rated split air conditioner.
- A ceiling fan running 8 hours daily uses about 15 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month.
- A 1.5-ton AC running 10 hours daily adds up to 252 kWh a month.
- Total monthly consumption: 267 kWh
Power Tariff in UP: Rising Costs and Surcharges
In Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida, electricity is supplied by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL). The urban domestic tariff structure is tiered:
- 0-100 units: Rs 5.50 per unit
- 101-150 units: Rs 5.50 per unit
- 151-300 units: Rs 6.00 per unit
- Fixed charges: Rs 110-150 per month
- Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA): 1.24%
- Time of Day (TOD) surcharge: 10-20% in peak summer hours
Based on these rates, the bill for consuming 267 units in UP (urban area) amounts to:
- Energy charges: Rs 1,527
- Fixed charge: Rs 130
- FPPCA: Rs 18.92
- TOD surcharge (10%): Rs 152.70
- Total Bill: Rs 1,828.62
Power in Delhi: Generous Subsidies and Lower Tariffs
Electricity in Delhi is supplied by BSES and Tata Power. The 2025 rates are far more consumer-friendly:
- 0-200 units: Free (with Delhi government subsidy)
- 201-400 units: Rs 4.50 per unit (effective rate Rs 4.07 per unit with PPAC)
- Fixed charge: Rs 125-250 per month
But here’s the catch: if you cross 200 units, the subsidy vanishes, and you pay for the entire consumption, not just the excess over 200. Still, even at 267 units, the total cost is significantly lower than in UP.
Estimated bill for 267 units in Delhi is approximately Rs 1,300.
Who’s Paying More?
Residents of Noida, Ghaziabad, and Greater Noida are paying 30-38% more than those in Delhi for the same level of electricity usage. The absence of subsidies, higher fixed charges, and surcharges like TOD and FPPCA contribute to the gap.
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