Electricity Saving Tips For Homes And Offices

Fuel Adjustment Charges on Electricity Bills explained

By on August 27, 2015
Hindi Translation: बिजली के बिल पर ईंधन समायोजन शुल्क को समझना

Have you ever wondered why your electricity bill amount is not the same even when you have the same number of units consumed on the bill? Why is it that the electricity bill is different even when you have not changed your electricity consumption? If you look at your bills you will just find that there is an amount mentioned as FAC or FCA or FPPCA, which is either positive or negative and is creating the difference.

What is FAC/FCA or FPPCA?

FAC (Fuel Adjustment Charge) or FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment) or FPPCA (Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment) is amount that utilities apply on bills based on varying price of fuel or Coal. The price of coal or fuel changes every month based on demand and supply of coal and thus cost of producing electricity changes accordingly. The electricity generation companies pass on this cost to distribution companies who there by pass it on to consumers.

Why is FAC not included in the tariff slabs?

Electricity regulatory commissions of various states fix tariffs for electricity in India periodically. The revision happens every few years (every year in some cases) and a new tariff is set based on the cost of production and distribution of electricity. But the prices of fuel or coal changes throughout the year and the utilities have to manage these changing costs by passing it to the consumer.

How frequently does FAC change?

It varies from state to state. In some places like Mumbai, FAC is calculated every month. In most of the states it is Quarterly. In Madhya Pradesh it is Half Yearly and in West Bengal it is yearly. In some states like Chhattisgarh and Tripura it is revised on need basis from time to time. In case new tariffs are not defined frequently, the FAC component in electricity bill can be as much as the electricity tariff amount.

How is FAC calculated?

Every state has a different formula to calculate FAC amount. We are in process of collecting this information. We will update the readers of Bijli Bachao as soon as we get this information handy.

How does FAC impact my electricity bill?

It is a charge that is applicable per unit of electricity consumed. Unlike fixed charges it is a variable component on the electricity bill and changes as per your consumption of electricity every month. At times it is negative as well but mostly it is positive. Any reduction in monthly consumption of electricity will surely help in bringing down the amount in this component. So keep reading Bijli Bachao and reduce your electricity consumption.

Recommended Content

  • Janika Jain

    It would be helpful if you could provide with the FAC figures for various states in the country as has been provided for other charges previously.

  • ashi

    I wants to know why the fuel surcharge adjustment is so high in haryana? Prior it is fixed to 13 rs no matter how much we consumed electricity…but from last four months it multiply with consumption of electricity bill…i dnt get it…and they are taking wrong meter reading also..cant get what to do please help..

  • Ankit Ahuja

    Suddenly very concerned to see my electricity bill for past 2 months – a good amount of FSA has been charged this time.

    How is FSA charged by DHBVN in Gurgaon – monthly/quarterly/annually? Never saw this on the previous bills.

    • https://www.bijlibachao.com Abhishek Jain

      Hi Ankit,

      Not sure of DHBVN but FSA is typically calculated every billing period. So if your bills are generated monthly then FSA should be calculated every month. This is how it happens in most states.

  • shobha

    Is FSA calculated as per units consumed, as appearing in bills of DHBVN in Gurgaon(Haryana)?does it relate to less amount per unit claimed earlier?

    • https://www.bijlibachao.com Abhishek Jain

      It does not pertain to less amount paid earlier. It is the charge on the consumption of units in the billing period.

  • shobha

    Dear all,
    How is FSA(Fuel Surcharge Adjustment )calculated by DHBVN in Gurgaon,Haryana.. As i have occupied a rented house recently a month back only, is this amount payable by me or the landlord, in their bill dt. 15.9..2015 pertaining to the period from 19th July2015 to 15.9.2015 for 58 days.?An early reply is solicited. Thanks.

  • shobha

    Dear All,
    I have occupied a rented house w.e.f 1.9.2015 in Gurgaon,Haryana and a sum of Rs 2,714.23 is included as Fuel Charge Adjustment in their bill dt 15.9.2015. Is it payable by the landlord or by me {the tenant).Kindly advise asap.thanks and regards. shobha

    • Ankit Ahuja

      Pay half IMHO.

    • https://www.bijlibachao.com Abhishek Jain

      Depends on the agreement between you and your landlord. Fuel Charge is similar to energy charge and depends on electricity used. So ideally it should be paid by you.

  • sanjeev kumar

    Sir Sanjeev here, I have one 1.5ton window ac 5 star and one split ac 1.5ton 3 star, one geyser which works in winter a 360 litre refrigerator 4 star rated, 4cfls and three fans what load should i apply in uttar pradesh, two acs will not work together always. all fans never work together, also i have a sukam inverter, please suggest me

    • Bijli Bachao Team

      You should go for 4 kW load. Your geyser itself would be 2-3 kW. AC would be 1.5 kW each. Refrigerator would be max 0.35 kW. 3 Fans would be 0.27kW.

    • sanjeev

      But geysers dont work in summer and ac’s dont work in winter

    • Bijli Bachao Team

      Your geyser + fans + refrigerators itself may take it to 4 KW and that is why we suggested 4 KW.

  • saurav suman

    HI sir, I have to take a new electricity connection for my new house with these appliances 5 cfls(8hrs/day),3 fans,1 submersible pump(1hp),1 freeze, 2coolers(only in summer), 1 inverter, 1 t.v, 1 geezer(in winter), 1 washing m/c.so, plz suggest me that 2 kva is sufficient for the new connection or not.

    • Abhishek Jain

      Hello Mr Saurav,

      Your geyser alone can take 2KVA or more depending on model. Pump + Refrigerator is another 1 kVA. And 1 KVA for the rest of the things. However when you take connected load, you figure out the maximum of sum of load of appliances that will be switched on at any given point of time. If Geyser will be on along with pump and refrigerator then these 3 themselves will take up 3 KVA. But if geyser is not on then the system will consume less than 2KVA. 4 KVA will be safe for you.

  • Ashwani

    DERC Supply Code and Performance Standards Regulations, 2007, ANNEXE XIII, Assessment of energy in cases of theft/pilferage on Page 124 of the subject code / regulations has following insertion;

    The working hours for the purpose of assessment in the cases of bonafide domestic use for operating domestic water pump, microwave owens, washing machines and petty domestic appliances shall not be considered for more than one hour working per day on 100% load factor.

    In this regard, kindly clarify how the Geyser is to be treated for assessment? Is it to be treated as a petty domestic appliance and not be considered for more than one hour working per day on 100% load factor?

    Is there any DERC ruling / clarification/ case in this regard? Kindly provide the same in case available. I understand that Staff Paper on Delhi Electricity Supply Code & Performance Standards Regulations has proposed Geyser as petty domestic appliance, but this never got implemented.

    • Abhishek Jain

      Hi Ashwani,

      I am sorry, I do not have much idea on this.

  • suneet

    dear mr abhishek, my FPPPA charges for august 2014, in gandhinagar gujarat(torrent power) is 1763rs. Please explain it. Please add an option for attaching bill here (instead of mailing it) so communication can be improved.

  • Jigar Mistry

    Dear Mr. Abhishek,

    Would like to know what is Total Adjustment Amount which is mentioned in the electricity bill and in details it is just mentioned a three digit no. Kindly explain?

    Jigar Mistry

    • Abhishek Jain

      Hi Mr Jigar,

      Total Adjustment would be the sum of various kinds of adjustments on your bill. This would include fuel adjustment charges, any discounts or arrears, etc. If you can send me a copy of your electricity bill at feedback@bijlibachao.com, I can reply to you in greater detail.


  • Nilesh

    dear sir/ma’am

    Which elements are used while generating electricity?
    On which bases they decide cost for Below poverty line consumer?

    • Abhishek Jain


      It’s a mix of sources that are used to generate electricity. Mostly it is coal that is used. These days lot of renewables sources are also being used. Some states have hydro or geothermal energy generation. So it is a mix in every state in the country. As far as definition of BPL is concerned, it is mostly the standard definition provided by the government. For the basis I think someone from state’s electricity regulatory commission can provide the best answer, because they are the ones who give final approval for tariffs.


  • anitha

    Dear team

    my electricity bill shows fac of nil for july and aug 2012… Does this mean there were no changes in fuel prices??? It shud hv atleast been negative if not positive… Am i being cheated?

    • Abhishek Jain

      HI Anitha,

      Most state tariffs got revised in July and August timeframe. Many states had accounted for latest fuel prices in their new tariffs and thus nil FAC sounds reasonable. It is not always necessary that FAC is negative or positive. If the tariffs are at parity with generation cost, then FAC is not used. So I do not think there is any problem with nil FAC.