Students Lead Statewide Uprising in Assam Over Power Rate Hike

On Saturday, the All Guwahati Students' Union (AGSU) rolled out a series of rallies that quickly spread from Guwahati to towns like Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Baksa and Lakhimpur. The spark? A fresh hike in electricity tariffs that many say is squeezing already‑stretched households.

Speaking in front of a sea of students and local residents, AGSU President Kamal Mahanta let his frustration spill over. “Every day the price of groceries goes up, yet the government pretends it’s looking out for us,” he said, his voice cracking a little as he gestured toward the crowd. “Now they have increased power charges again. We won’t stop until these hikes are pulled back.”

The state power distribution company, APDCL, recently filed a petition with the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) to recover accumulated Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPPA) surcharges—roughly Rs 155‑160 crore. The AERC gave the nod, allowing APDCL to collect the unpaid amount in instalments from November through March. For ordinary consumers, the revised tariff means an extra Rs 0.05‑0.30 per unit, a jump that, while seemingly modest, adds up fast in a climate of high inflation.

Students aren’t just upset about the numbers. Many allege that the rollout of smart prepaid meters has led to inflated bills, a claim that the union has echoed across several districts. In a symbolic act, AASU units burned effigies of the Power Department and staged sit‑ins outside district electricity offices, signalling that the discontent is far from limited to the capital.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tried to calm the situation, describing the surcharge as a “temporary measure” needed to recoup past fuel costs. He promised that once APDCL recovers the dues, the extra charge would be automatically withdrawn. Yet critics argue that this explanation sidesteps the immediate hardship faced by families already grappling with soaring food prices.

As the protests gain momentum, AGSU has warned that if the government doesn’t act swiftly, the agitation could intensify—potentially turning into a longer‑term movement that could disrupt daily life across Assam.