Guwahati: The Assam State Committee of the All Assam Electricity Consumers Association has strongly criticised the decision of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to donate Rs.10 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, alleging that the move exposes contradictions in the utility’s claims of financial distress.

In a press statement issued on Friday, the association said that APDCL frequently cites losses whenever demands are raised for reducing electricity tariffs or providing relief to consumers. The organisation questioned how the power distribution company could afford such a large donation if it was genuinely facing financial difficulties.

The association alleged that the donation indicates that APDCL is collecting excessive charges from electricity consumers. It maintained that APDCL is not a profit-driven commercial entity but a public service institution created with public resources, and therefore should prioritise consumer welfare rather than generating surplus funds.

Reiterating a long-standing public demand, the organisation called for a reduction in electricity tariffs across Assam and urged the government to provide up to 100 units of electricity free of cost every month, similar to schemes implemented in several other states.

The consumers’ body argued that instead of offering relief to households struggling with rising living costs, APDCL’s contribution to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund amounted to an unnecessary act of appeasement.

The association also expressed surprise over the decision of Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) to contribute Rs.5 crore to the same fund. It questioned the rationale behind the donation at a time when no significant new government-led power generation projects have been undertaken to boost electricity production in the state.

Citing the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities, the All Assam Electricity Consumers Association renewed its demand for free electricity up to 100 units per month, stating that such a measure would provide much-needed relief to ordinary consumers across Assam.