24-Hour Uninterrupted Power Across UP for Diwali and Chhath
In a major festive relief for millions of households, commercial establishments, and rural consumers across Uttar Pradesh, the state government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the energy department to ensure an uninterrupted, round-the-clock power supply during the upcoming celebrations of Diwali, Chhath, and allied festivities. Reviewing state power operations in Lucknow on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Urban Development and Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma issued stern directives to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) officials and distribution companies, stating unequivocally that unannounced shutdowns, frequent line tripping, and arbitrary load shedding will not be tolerated during the festival of lights. Underscoring that festivals symbolize illumination, celebration, and family joy, the minister instructed field engineers and transmission personnel across all 75 districts to maintain maximum grid availability and resolve local disruptions instantaneously to ensure that urban streets and rural hamlets remain fully illuminated throughout the holiday period.
Zero Harassment for Small Consumers: Ban on Festive Disconnections and 9.70% Bill Relief
Demonstrating a citizen-first enforcement policy, the Energy Minister placed a strict moratorium on disconnecting power lines of consumers over pending arrears during the festive season, instructing discom officials not to harass domestic households or small commercial shops under the guise of revenue recovery drives. While ordering zero tolerance against organized, large-scale commercial power theft networks and high-voltage line tampering under statutory provisions, the administration emphasized that ordinary families must celebrate without fear of sudden power deprivation. To further streamline consumer convenience, the department has mandated the rapid clearance of all pending domestic electricity connection applications submitted through the state's flagship Jhatpat Portal, while setting up a rigorous internal review of previously rejected applications to eliminate clerical bottlenecks. Adding to the celebratory cheer, Minister Sharma announced that consumers across domestic, commercial, and agricultural categories will receive a 9.70 percent reduction in their electricity bills for November, marking the fifth consecutive month of tariff relief and directly easing monthly household budgets ahead of the winter season.
Grid Modernization in Nagar Panchayats: Fast-Tracking Transformer Capacity and System Audits
To insulate regular tariff-paying consumers from erratic line tripping and voltage fluctuations caused by network overloading or local defaulters, UPPCL engineers have been instructed to conduct urgent load audits and immediately expand transformer capacities across congested residential and market feeders. The minister placed special emphasis on newly constituted Nagar Panchayats and semi-urban municipal town areas, issuing firm orders that power delivery in these emergent civic corridors must mirror the continuous, high-grade reliability maintained at district headquarters. Confirming that the Urban Development Department stands fully equipped to sanction additional contingency budgets for emergency substation upgrades, line reconductoring, and equipment replacement, the high-level review saw the active participation of Principal Secretary (Energy) Ranveer Prasad, UPPCL Managing Director Nitish Kumar, and DISCOM Managing Director Mayur Maheshwari, establishing a multi-tiered administrative monitoring grid to guarantee a bright, stable, and uninterrupted festive season statewide.
