Goa, Oct. 2 -- Households and businesses in Goa will soon feel the pinch of rising electricity costs as the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has approved an average annual tariff hike of 4% for five consecutive financial years, starting October 1, 2025. The hike aims to address the state's widening revenue gap but has sparked strong criticism from the opposition and civil society.

While the Goa Electricity Department had proposed steeper hikes of up to 5.64%, JERC settled on a uniform 4% rise each year until 2029-30. The Commission also introduced a controversial "time-of-day tariff," making electricity 20% costlier during peak hours between 5 pm and 1 am.

Opposition leaders and activists slammed the decision as insensitiv...