Free electricity- The electricity board management has prepared a proposal for this. This new system will be implemented in the entire state after the approval of the government. Its aim is to stop the misuse of electricity subsidies and provide benefits to the real needy consumers.
Free electricity- Domestic electricity consumers in Himachal Pradesh will now be able to avail subsidy for only two meters. The electricity board management has prepared a proposal for this. This new system will be implemented in the entire state after the government’s approval. Its aim is to stop misuse of electricity subsidies and provide benefits to the real needy consumers. Currently, up to 125 units of electricity are available free per month.
Many consumers in the state have more than two meters in their names. These families are availing the electricity subsidy on multiple connections. According to the board management, in future such consumers will get subsidy only for two meters, while electricity supply on the third or more meters will be provided at normal (non-subsidized) rates. In the initial proposal of the board, it was said that a family will get subsidy only for one meter. Keeping in mind the circumstances of large families, joint houses and rural areas in the state, this proposal has now been revised.
There are thousands of domestic consumers in the state who use less than 125 units of electricity per month. Consumers in this category are currently exempted from any charges. This means that they are using electricity entirely on subsidies. The government bears the burden of crores of rupees in this sector every year as subsidies. There are more than 22 lakh domestic consumers in the state. Slabs have been made to provide subsidies to these consumers based on their electricity consumption. Under the new system, electricity meters are being linked with Aadhaar numbers. Senior officials of the electricity board say that there is a growing trend of one person or family receiving subsidies through multiple meters. Once implemented, such irregularities will be stopped, and the benefit of the subsidy will be limited to the truly needy.
What will be the impact on consumers?
After the implementation of the new policy, consumers who have more than two meters in their names will not get subsidies for additional connections. However, families with two or one meter will continue to get the existing subsidy. The new system is likely to increase the problems of homeowners and slum dwellers in big cities. Homeowners in big cities, including the capital Shimla, have rented out many flats. The electricity meters in these flats are in the names of the homeowners. Similarly, in plain districts, especially around industrial areas, landowners have built slums. Here too, electricity meters are installed in the names of the landowners.
