{
  "id": 12560678,
  "title": "People need relief during festive season, but they are burdened: Harish Rao on Telangana electricity charges hike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/people-need-relief-during-festive-season-but-they-are-burdened-harish",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T06:09:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/people-need-relief-during-festive-season-but-they-are-burdened-harish-rao-on-telangana-electricity-charges-hike/article71551793.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao criticized the proposed electricity charge hike in Telangana, stating it would burden consumers with an additional ₹5,420 crore. The proposed increase, allegedly forced by the ruling Congress government, would exacerbate power cuts already experienced by people, particularly farmers, during the festival season. Rao emphasized that the government's management of the power sector was poor and that it should assume responsibility for the financial difficulties, rather than imposing the burden on consumers. He recalled the previous BRS government's proposal of ₹12,718.40 crore true-up charges from 2016-17 to 2021-22, which was not passed on to consumers. Under the BRS regime, Telangana's installed power generation capacity grew from 7,778 MW to 19,450 MW, with significant expansion of the transmission network and added solar power capacity. However, these projects were not operating at full capacity due to coal shortages and other issues. Rao also opposed the proposed dilution of 26% of TG-Transco and called for the immediate withdrawal of privatisation plans for TG-Genco, Singareni, and Discoms, urging electricity employees to oppose these measures.",
  "summary": "Opposing the reported move to dilute 26% of TG-Transco, BRS leader alleges Congress Government plans to privatise TG-Transco, TG-Genco, Singareni and Discoms",
  "key_points": [
    "BRS leader Harish Rao opposes Telangana's proposed electricity charge hike.",
    "Hike would add ₹5,420 crore burden to consumers, worsening power cuts.",
    "Rao criticizes poor power sector management and calls for no privatisation."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The proposed electricity charge hike in Telangana shifts financial burden from the state's power sector management to consumers, particularly at a time when they are already struggling with power cuts during the festive season.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}