Have you ever thought that the electricity that runs the fan and AC in your house throughout the day is sometimes sold for free and sometimes at a negative price in the wholesale market during the day? But the same electricity reaches Rs 10-12 per unit in the dark of night? Yes, this has now become a daily routine in the electricity exchanges of India. This story is not just about demand and supply of electricity, but completely about the battle going on between sunlight and darkness…

The game starts with the first rays of the sun

As soon as 6-7 in the morning, crores of solar panels installed on the roofs of houses, fields and deserts across the country start working. India is today the third largest solar energy producer in the world. The share of solar in our total electricity generation capacity has crossed 20 percent. As the sun shines brighter, millions of units of cheap solar electricity start flowing into the grid every hour. Solar plants are at their peak between 12 and 3 pm. Electricity is generated in such huge quantities that the supply in the exchange starts outweighing the demand.

The electricity market also has the same rule as the vegetable market, that is, when the goods become too much, the prices fall. This is the reason why in the hot afternoon the price of electricity on the spot exchange falls to Rs 1-2 per unit and sometimes even reaches zero. In some states, ‘negative pricing’ is also being seen, that is, the seller of electricity is paying money to the buyer so that his grid remains stable.

Why does the whole game change as soon as evening falls?

But as soon as it is 5 in the evening and the sun starts setting, the speed of the solar panel slows down. By 6 o’clock solar generation almost ends. At this very time, lights, fans, TVs, ACs and coolers switch on in every house in the country. People returning from offices increase their usage of electricity. On one hand, a huge source of supply suddenly stops and on the other hand, the demand rapidly reaches its peak.

Electricity distribution companies suddenly face a crisis as to how to meet this huge demand? They have to immediately start coal and gas thermal plants, the cost of generating electricity is 3-5 times more than solar. As a result, between 7 and 11 pm, the price on electricity exchanges jumps to Rs 8, 10 and sometimes Rs 12-14 per unit.

This is ‘Duck Curve’ – the shape of the duck which shook the whole system

The International Energy Agency and the Indian Research Institute call this strange pattern ‘duck curve’. If you draw a graph of electricity demand throughout the day, it looks like the shape of a duck. High peaks in the morning and evening and deep troughs in the afternoon. Indian Express reports that as more and more solar panels are being installed in the country, this duck curve is becoming steeper.

When electricity prices fall to zero in the afternoon, the rate of return for solar plants decreases. When thermal plants suddenly have to run at full capacity in the evening, their maintenance and fuel costs skyrocket. Both the situations are creating great difficulties for investors and power companies.

Lack of storage is the real problem

You will think that when such cheap electricity is being generated during the day, why not save it and use it at night? This is the biggest challenge. At present the capacity of battery storage in India is very modest. According to an analysis by a current affairs magazine, India’s grid-scale battery storage capacity is still in its nascent stage, while the need is many times greater. Installing big batteries requires huge investment, which is currently an expensive deal for power companies. Also, pumped hydro storage projects are also taking time. As a result, the electricity of the day cannot illuminate the darkness of the night.

Business Standard recently reported that this volatility in spot power prices is now seen 12 months of the year, whereas earlier it used to be only in summer. There are two big reasons for this:

• Very rapid increase in solar capacity.
• Inability to increase stable baseload electricity like nuclear and hydro.

When your most reliable power source, the sun, disappears in the evening, there will be turmoil in the market. To deal with this problem, the government is now working on schemes like time-of-day tariff (i.e. different electricity rates according to day and night) and subsidy on battery storage.

So what is the solution?

Experts believe that unless we make arrangements to store daytime solar electricity on a large scale, this turmoil will continue. Some startups are now designing plants with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that will reduce their production during the day and increase it at night. According to Indoen.com, this wildness in electricity prices may increase further in the coming 4-5 years, because solar capacity is continuously increasing while the pace of storage is not matching it.

Electricity Bill: As we all know how much electricity is used in this scorching heat because things like AC, cooler, fan run all day in every house due to which the electricity bill becomes very high, hence today through this news we will tell you some easy ways by which electricity will be saved and your bill will also not be high.

AC temperature

Most of the people keep the temperature of AC very high like at 16 or 18 degrees. Due to this the electricity bill also increases. Experts say that we should always keep the temperature of AC at 24, which reduces the bill and also keeps the room cool.

reduce bulb use

If there is no use of the bulb in a room or there is no one in that room, then it is wise to keep it switched off. In most of the rooms where the bulb is of no use, we often leave the switch on, this also has a greater impact on the electricity bill.

Keep in mind the 5-star rating

While buying electronic items like fridge, AC or washing machine, always keep in mind which item has a 5-star rating. Always buy goods with 5-star rating level as they consume less electricity.

use as much as needed

If we use things that run on electricity only as much as we need, it will be better for us because accordingly electricity will be used less and the expenditure on the bill will also reduce.

If we take special care of these things in this scorching heat, it will be better for us because keeping these things in mind, we will not need to pay high electricity bills and electricity will also be used properly.

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Electricity News: The common man is already troubled by the rising prices of petrol, diesel and CNG. Now there may be a big shock regarding electricity bill also. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has made such a proposal, if implemented, people may have to pay higher fixed charges every month. This means that even if the fan and bulb do not work in your house and the house is locked, you will still have to pay a part of the electricity bill.

After all, what is the whole matter?

Currently the electricity bill comes in two parts. First – charge for the unit of electricity consumed and second – fixed charge. Fixed charge is the amount which is fixed every month, whether the electricity is used less or more. Now CEA wants that this fixed charge should be increased so that the losses incurred by the power companies can be compensated. According to the report, the major expenditure of power companies is on power network, transmission lines, employees’ salaries and maintenance. But only a small part of their income comes from fixed charges.

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Money will have to be paid even if the house is closed

The biggest impact of this proposal may be on common consumers. If this rule is implemented, then even those who use less electricity may have to pay a hefty fixed charge every month. Suppose a person is out of home for a month due to job or holidays. Till now his bill was less because electricity was not spent. But in the new system, a fixed charge will have to be paid even if the house is closed. This is the reason why people are calling it no use, still bill system.

After all, why are power companies in need?

Actually, the use of rooftop solar is increasing rapidly in the country. A large number of people are generating their own electricity by installing solar panels on their rooftops. Due to this, the electricity purchased from power companies is decreasing. CEA says that companies still have to keep the entire network ready, because these consumers use the government grid when needed. In such a situation, the earnings of the companies are decreasing but the expenses are not decreasing.

Who will be affected to what extent?

According to the proposal, the fixed charge for domestic and agricultural consumers can be increased to 25 percent of the total cost. Whereas for factories, malls and big commercial consumers, it has been said that it will be taken up to 100 percent by 2030. This means that in the coming time, a large part of the electricity bill may be “fixed” and the part of unit cost may be less.

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Tension of middle class may increase

This proposal is being considered as a cause of concern for the middle class which is already troubled by inflation, EMIs and daily expenses. Especially those families who try to keep their bills low by saving electricity can be especially affected. However, right now this is just a proposal and the final decision on its implementation will be taken by the regulatory bodies. But if this is implemented, then the electricity bill can have a big impact on people’s household budget in the coming days.

Power Tariff Hike: People were troubled by the shortage and rising prices of gas and oil due to the US-Iran war. However, at present there has been some relief from this. But now the rising prices of electricity bills have given sleepless nights to the common people. The month of May is going to start with a big shock for the common people. There are reports that electricity bills are going to increase in Bangalore from May 1.

Decision for financial stability
Electricity consumers in Bengaluru will have to pay extra 56 paise per unit of electricity bill from May 1. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has increased the prices of electricity bills. This increase has happened after the approval of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory (KERC). This will provide financial stability to power distribution companies.

Why did prices increase?
These new prices have been implemented to recover from the loss of tariff ‘true-up’ process revenue. Which was approximately Rs 2,068 crore in the financial year 2024-25. The additional charges will be levied on a monthly basis during 2024-27 and will be reflected in your electricity bill after the first meter reading in May. This is going to have a significant impact on the pockets of common consumers.

stated in the order
This order states, ‘BESCOM will calculate the amount to be recovered on the basis of actual energy consumption during the financial year 2024-25 for every active consumer of the financial year 2024-25. This amount will be recovered in equal monthly installments during the financial year 2026-27, which will be called the actual fee for FY 25. This recovery will start from the first meter reading date falling on or after May 1, 2026 and will continue till the reading ends on April 30, 2027.

However, resentment is also being seen among the general public due to this decision. Many consumers say that the increase in electricity bills, already in the era of inflation, will put a burden on the household budget. This increase can be a cause of concern especially for middle class families.

Nowadays, many electronic devices are being used in almost every house. This makes our life easier. But there are many appliances due to which the electricity bill increases significantly. Most of the people think that the bills increase due to burning of bulbs or running fans. but it’s not like that

But there are some big appliances which silently consume more units and we are not even aware of it. If they are not used wisely. So the electricity bill increases by leaps and bounds. Due to which the monthly budget gets spoiled. Let us tell you which are those three appliances which consume the most electricity and which need special attention.

AC consumes the most electricity

The month of March has started. Now the arrival of summer has started in the country. And as soon as summer comes, AC becomes the most important appliance in the house. But it is also among those who consume the most electricity. A normal 1.5 ton AC can draw about 1500 to 2000 watts of power. If it is run for 6 to 8 hours daily.

So there may be a big jump in the monthly bill. Especially when the temperature is set too low. So the compressor keeps running for a longer time. The better way is to keep the temperature between 24 to 26 degrees and keep the room properly closed. ACs with inverter technology consume less than normal.

Water heater also consumes a lot of electricity

Geyser is used almost daily in winter and this makes it a heavy power consuming appliance. A normal water heater can consume 2000 to 3000 watts of power. If it is left on for a long time. So the units grow faster. Many people forget to switch off the water even after it gets hot. Due to which there is unnecessary consumption. Geyser should be operated only as per need. Apart from this, choosing a model with good quality insulated tank can also save electricity.

Washing machine also increases the bill

The washing machine may not run for the whole day. But its motor and heating system consume a lot of electricity. Especially if you use hot wash mode. So consumption increases further. It is more beneficial to run the machine in full load instead of washing clothes in small loads every day. If used two or three times a week with proper planning, the unit costs less. Running more dryer modes also increases the bill.

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In Uttarakhand, the outstanding of electricity bills on government departments has reached more than Rs 104 crore. Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited i.e. UPCL has adopted a strict stance and made the list of defaulters public on its official website. The corporation has decided that now the updated list of outstanding amount will be posted on the website every month so that transparency is maintained.

According to the data till March 2, a total electricity bill of Rs 104.57 crore is outstanding on government institutions and some private industrial units across the state. The highest outstanding is on Jal Sansthan and Irrigation Department. In Almora district, an amount of Rs 10.34 crore is pending on a single account of Jal Sansthan, which is among the highest outstanding accounts. In Tehri district, electricity bill of more than Rs 4.52 crore is outstanding on Drinking Water Corporation.

Serious situation in Haridwar and Dehradun also

In Jwalapur division in Haridwar district, a project manager has outstanding dues of Rs 4.49 crore on the Ganga project and another project manager has outstanding dues of Rs 2.16 crore. A huge liability of Rs 3.75 crore has been registered against a private industrial unit in Roorkee. More than Rs 1.63 crore is outstanding on one account of a water supply engineer in Dehradun. An amount of more than Rs 1 crore is also pending on the Ganga Pollution Control Project.

Defaulters from medical college to tube well section

In the medical education sector, a bill of Rs 14.64 lakh is outstanding on Soban Singh Jeena Medical College. Payment of Rs 44.78 lakh on tube well section in Nainital district, lakhs on several accounts of EE tube well section in Champawat and Rs 25.90 lakh on Jal Sansthan in Barkot has not been made yet.

Electricity will be cut if payment is not made on time

UPCL management has given a clear warning that if the concerned departments do not make the payment on time, the power supply may be affected in the coming months. The corporation says that the financial pressure is increasing due to the continuously increasing dues, which may affect the power system and maintenance works. The next review report of the corporation will be released in the first week of April 2026.

Electricity Bill Complaint: Electricity bill is a very important document that comes to every house every month. In which it is told how much electricity you have consumed in a month and how much has been your bill. But when the bill started showing more amount than the consumption. So people get worried. Suddenly getting bills worth thousands of rupees has become a common problem in many homes. Some people think that they have actually used more electricity in a month.

That’s why he doesn’t complain about this matter. But let us tell you that if the consumption in your house is less and the bill is coming high, then there may be some technical problem. If this happens to you, you can complain about wrong calling. Know what is the correct procedure for this.

What are the reasons for getting wrong electricity bill?

Often the root of wrong electricity bill lies in meter reading. Sometimes the meter reader notes the wrong unit. Sometimes the bill is generated on the basis of estimate. Even if the meter gets damaged, consumption appears higher. Apart from this, old dues also get added many times.

So misuse of slab rate also becomes a reason. Apart from this, sometimes the bill also increases due to technical fault during data update in the online system. Therefore, before complaining, it is important to compare it with the old bills and see the current reading of the meter.

How to lodge electricity bill complaint?

The easiest way to get a wrong bill is to lodge a complaint online. Go to the website or mobile app of the electricity distribution company and enter the consumer number in the complaint or grievance section and register your complaint. It is important to tell the bill number, meter reading and problem correctly.

If online facility is not available. Then you can give a written complaint to the nearest electricity office or sub division. Let us tell you that in many states, complaints are also taken through toll free number and WhatsApp. As soon as the complaint is registered, a complaint number is given. Through which the complaint can be tracked.

What happens after complaint?

After receiving the complaint, the electricity department checks both the meter and the bill. If necessary, meter reading is taken again or the meter is sent for testing. If mistake is found. Then the correct bill is issued and those who have paid more are billed. It is adjusted in the next bill.

The Income Tax Department has extended the last date for filing income tax returns for the financial year 2024-25 to 15 September. Now there is only one week left in the deadline, but the speed of the returns filed till September 7 is much slower than expected. Usually people believe that if their annual income is less than tax free limit then there is no need to fill ITR. The reality is that in some circumstances it is mandatory to file ITR, even if your taxable income is zero. Not doing so can only impose penalty, but notice can also be sent by the Income Tax Department.

On depositing more than one crore in current account

If you have deposited an amount of Rs 1 crore or more in any bank’s current account within 1 year, then it is necessary to file an ITR. This rule applies to both cash and digital transactions. The aim of the government is to monitor such big transactions so that black money can be stopped.

On spending more than 2 lakhs on travel abroad

If you have spent 2 lakh or more on foreign travel throughout the year, then it is mandatory to file returns. It is necessary to file an ITR in both the conditions of tea personal trip or business trip.

Electricity bill is over 1 lakh

If your annual electricity bill comes more than Rs 1, then the Income Tax Department makes it mandatory to file an ITR to track the difference between your expenses and income. This rule covers those who show less earnings but spend more.

ITR is also necessary on cutting TDS

If your income is cut on your income 25 thousand rupees or more TDS, then you will have to file ITR. At the same time, this limit has been kept at 50 thousand for senior citizens. Its aim is to ensure that the tax on which the tax is deducted, they give the correct details of their income.

Foreign property or bank account people

If you have any property in another country or you have a signing authority in a bank account of a foreign, then you have to fill ITR in any case. While filing ITR, you have to give complete information about your foreign income and assets. These rules of the Income Tax Department have been made to monitor those whose declared income is low. But their expenses and transactions are large.

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