Sun Aug 31 15:38:45 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh Power Consumers Bristle at Rising Electricity Bills

**Visakhapatnam, August 31, 2025** – Nearly 7.3 million consumers served by the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) are facing mounting frustration over unexpectedly high electricity bills. Residents are alleging that the power company is discreetly adding extra charges to recoup past expenditures and losses, leading to significant increases in their monthly costs.

Consumers point to the inclusion of “Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment” (FPPCA) charges on their bills as the primary cause of the hike. One such bill reviewed by *The Hindu* showed ₹169.46 added under FPPCA1, ₹83 under FPPCA2, and ₹0.45 under FPPCA3 on a bill for 342 units, totaling ₹2,444.55.

APEPDCL officials have defended the charges, explaining that the collection of FPPCA, also known as true-up charges, began in 2008 under the authorization of the A.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) and guidelines from the State Government. These charges are meant to address discrepancies between estimated and actual power procurement costs. DISCOMs (Distribution Companies) submit annual expenditure reports to APERC, and if actual costs exceed estimates, they can request recovery from consumers through FPPCA or government subsidies.

According to an APEPDCL official, true-up charges for 2014-19 were previously collected at a rate of seven paise per unit over 18 instalments. The Visakhapatnam circle alone recovered approximately ₹696 crore during that period. Currently, the DISCOM is collecting FPPCA1 for 2022–23 (November 2024 to January 2026), FPPCA2 for 2023–24 (December 2024 to November 2026), and FPPCA3 for 2024–25 (starting April 2024).

The official stated that Visakhapatnam has collected ₹500 crore through the current FPPCA levies, and another ₹500 crore remains to be collected from approximately 1 million electricity connections within the Visakhapatnam circle. While past practices involved recovering true-up charges for periods ranging from one to five years, the latest guidelines dictate that recovery is based on the previous month’s electricity consumption. This, according to APEPDCL, is designed to benefit consumers.

The current FPPCA charge is ₹0.40 per unit and reflects the real-time costs of fuel and power procurement. APERC permits automatic monthly adjustments to bills to accommodate market fluctuations.

While APEPDCL maintains the charges are necessary and regulated, the burden on consumers remains a point of contention. Many are questioning the transparency of the system and the impact on their household budgets, demanding further clarification and potential relief from the rising costs. The situation is developing and will likely be monitored closely by both consumers and regulatory bodies in the coming months.

Read More