UP Power Department Rocked by Minister-Chairman Showdown; Minister Questions UPPCL Chief Over Surcharge Hike – Indian PSU

A major controversy has surfaced within Uttar Pradesh’s power sector after Energy Minister A.K. Sharma reportedly wrote a strongly worded letter to Dr. Ashish Kumar Goel, IAS (1995 batch), Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), raising concerns over key administrative decisions and communication within the department.

In the letter, the minister questioned the decision to increase the Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge (FPPAS) by around 10 percent for June 2026 without obtaining his approval or providing prior information. Sharma reportedly asked why such a significant decision, which directly impacts electricity consumers, was implemented without informing the minister concerned.

The minister also expressed displeasure over the chairman’s absence from the headquarters during a critical period marked by widespread power disruptions caused by severe storms in late May. According to the letter, while a review meeting on power supply and restoration was conducted online on May 30, the chairman was reportedly away from headquarters from May 29 to May 31. Sharma directed that in future, he should be informed before the chairman leaves headquarters during such sensitive situations.

The letter further referred to media reports and social media discussions regarding alleged instructions related to power supply management and questioned whether proper verification had been carried out before issuing such directives. The minister emphasized that actions affecting thousands of consumers and electricity workers should be taken with due diligence and accountability.

The correspondence, which has now gone viral, highlights apparent differences between the political leadership and the top management of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The development has triggered discussions within bureaucratic and power sector circles, as the energy department is one of the most consumer-facing wings of the state government.

The episode has raised larger questions about coordination, transparency, and decision-making within the state’s electricity administration, particularly at a time when reliable power supply remains a key governance priority.

The viral letter, though faded in parts and not very clear to read, is reproduced below for the benefit of readers of www.indianpsu.com –

We wait to see how Dr. Ashish Kumar Goel, Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited responds to the harsh content of the letter written by the Energy Minister of Uttar Pradesh…