Power Shock: AP bills ouble, netizens turn on coalition govt

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Jana Sena Party (JSP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in Andhra Pradesh is facing a wave of public anger as residents and netizens voice growing frustration over skyrocketing electricity bills.

Social media platforms are flooded with complaints, with many drawing stark comparisons between the current high tariffs and the lower rates during the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government led by former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The netizens are posting examples of sharp increases in power costs.

Many residents reported household bills soaring from a few hundred rupees to several thousand.

Some TDP handles also posted same thing. The Telugu Desam party sympathisers also warned the government to look into the issu.

However, official data from the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) tells a different story.

According to APERC, there has been no official tariff hike for domestic consumers in 2024-25 and 2025-26, with rates still in line with those set during the YSRCP government (Rs 1.90/unit for 0-30 units, Rs 6/unit for 126-225 units). The coalition government has blamed the spike in bills on increased household consumption and technical glitches, including smart meter inaccuracies, while denying any broad-based tariff increases.

Critics, including opposition leaders, argue that the coalition’s policies — especially costly power purchase agreements (PPAs) — have strained the state’s power sector.