Punjab’s power tariff for 2025-26, released on Friday, has been recalibrated, bringing a wave of relief for domestic and commercial consumers while industries operating at night will feel a higher surge in their bills. The state power regulator, Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), has kept power rates unchanged for households and businesses but has increased the night-time industrial tariff by 25 paise per unit, pushing it from Rs 5.25 to Rs 5.50 per unit.
 
For domestic consumers, the electricity tariff remains unchanged, with rates set at Rs 3.49 per unit for the first 100 units, Rs 5.84 per unit for consumption between 101-300 units, and Rs 7.30 per unit for usage exceeding 300 units. The non-residential supply (NRS) or commercial consumers will pay Rs 7.24 per unit, reflecting a minor reduction of two paise from the previous year.
 
Industrial consumers will see a differential tariff, with large supply (LS) industries paying Rs 5.25 per unit during the day, while night-time operations — from 10 pm to 6 am — will be charged Rs 5.50 per unit, an increase of 25 paise. Additionally, fixed charges for large industries have been revised to Rs 210 per kVA (kilovolt-amperes) for those consuming 100-1000 kVA and Rs 280 per kVA for industries exceeding 1000 kVA. Small and medium industries will continue to pay Rs 6.36 per unit.
 
This fiscal year’s tariff order, issued by PSERC chairperson Viswajeet Khanna (retired IAS) and member Paramjeet Singh (retired District and Sessions Judge), aimed at streamlining the power structure, introducing new slabs, reducing fixed charges for some consumers, and incentivizing renewable energy users. Domestic and non-residential consumers will now have two slabs instead of three, making billing simpler and more transparent.
 
A major structural reform is the introduction of a single-point supply category for residential complexes and group housing societies, offering them a lower fixed charge at Rs 130 per kVAh (kilovolt-ampere hours) — down from Rs 140 per kVAh — and reduced energy rates. 
 
Households and businesses will continue paying the same per-unit rate as last year, with the merging of slabs resulting in lower monthly bills for some domestic consumers, especially those using more than 300 units per month. Non-residential supply (NRS) consumers will see a minor reduction of two paise per unit, translating to savings of around Rs 110 per month for small businesses.
 
However, industrial units consuming electricity between 10 pm and 6 am will now pay Rs 5.50 per unit, while day-time industrial tariffs remain unchanged. A significant reform is the introduction of a new single-point supply category for residential colonies, cooperative group housing societies, and multi-story residential buildings, where fixed charges have been lowered by Rs 10 per kVAh, and energy charges have been reduced to Rs 6.75 per kVAh from Rs 6.96 per kVAh.
 
To promote clean energy, the Green Energy Tariff has been reduced from Rs 0.54 per kWh to Rs 0.39 per kWh, encouraging a shift towards renewable sources.
 
Large supply (LS) general industries will now have only two slabs instead of three, with fixed charges for the 100-1000 kVA category reduced to Rs 210 per kVA from Rs 220 per kVA, and those above 1000 kVA set at Rs 280 per kVA, offering relief to industries that were previously in higher slabs.
 
Charitable hospitals, water supply schemes, and agricultural high-density farming consumers will continue receiving rebates, while industries operating exclusively at night (10 Pm - 6 Am) will still enjoy a 50 percent rebate on fixed charges. Additionally, the Time of Day (ToD) tariff has been retained, with a peak-time surcharge of Rs two per kWh applicable from June 16 to October 15, 2025.
 
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had estimated a revenue deficit of Rs 5090.89 crore, but after PSERC’s review, a revenue surplus of Rs 311.50 crore was found. With this tariff order, PSPCL expected to generate Rs 47,985.81 crore, ensuring financial stability without burdening the common consumer.
 
Key Takeaways from Punjab's Power Tariff Order 2025-26
•         No tariff hike for domestic and commercial consumers
•         Night-time industrial tariff increased by Rs 0.25 per unit
•         New single-point supply category for residential colonies and group housing societies with lower fixed and energy charges
•         Green Energy Tariff reduced from Rs 0.54/kWh to Rs 0.39/kWh to promote renewable energy
•         Large industrial supply slabs reduced from three to two, with lower fixed charges for some categories
•         Two paise per unit reduction for non-residential consumers, offering minor savings
•         50% rebate on fixed charges for industries operating exclusively at night
•         Time of Day (ToD) tariff retained with Rs 2/kWh peak-time surcharge – from Jun 16 to Oct 15, 2025
•         PSPCL revenue surplus of Rs 311.50 crore after tariff adjustments