New Tax in Himachal: Rs 1 per unit extra electricity cess imposed on 10 commercial categories; Check full details
Shashi Bhushan Purohit
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), May 15, 2026: The Government of Himachal Pradesh has imposed a new electricity cess on several categories of commercial power consumers in the state, introducing an additional charge of Rs 1 per unit on electricity consumption.
According to a notification issued by the state Energy Department, the new cess has come into immediate effect and will apply to 10 categories linked to commercial and business activities.
The additional levy will be collected by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited under provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Duty Act, 2009. The government said the move was taken in public interest and aimed at strengthening the power sector.
The categories covered under the new cess include business establishments, private offices, hotels, motels, petrol pumps, private hospitals, nursing homes, research institutes, coaching centres, shopping malls and multiplexes.
This is the latest in a series of additional electricity-related charges introduced in the state over the past year. In February 2025, the state government had implemented milk and environmental cess on electricity bills, increasing tariffs for various consumer categories.
Under the earlier policy, domestic consumers were charged a milk cess, while commercial and other users were also required to pay environmental cess. Zero-bill domestic consumers were exempted from the milk cess.
In December 2025, the state had also imposed an additional cess of Rs 2 per unit on institutions linked to banking, finance and insurance sectors.
Reacting to the latest decision, BJP MLA and former Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma criticised the state government, alleging that repeated cess and price hikes were increasing the financial burden on both the public and businesses.
He claimed the latest electricity cess reflected the government’s economic policies and administrative failures.