Lucknow The recent massive debt recast for power discoms seems to have come as an eyeopener for state governments which long resisted timely tariff hikes in a sector where costs have soared.

In an unprecedented move, the Uttar Pradesh government has slammed its electricity regulator for deferring tariff hikes. Citing delay on the part of the regulator in announcing the new tariff structure, principal secretary, energy, Anil Kumar Gupta has written to the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC), directing it to issue the new tariff order within five days.