According to media reports, the Delhi government's power subsidy scheme has been highly successful, with over 84 per cent of eligible domestic consumers opting for it by the first week of April.
All consumers who filed for the subsidy under the programme from October 2021 will receive free power until March 31, 2024, according to a recent announcement by Power Minister Atishi. Several customers in Delhi have praised this announcement.
The scheme, which came into effect on October 1, 2021, offers up to 200 units of free electricity each month to consumers, and a 50 per cent subsidy to those using up to 400 units per month. Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister, declared last year that only users who had requested the electricity subsidy would get it.
An official document states that as of April 6, 2023, 49.39 lakhs out of 58.71 lakh domestic users have requested the subsidy. More than 93 per cent of BSES Rajdhani Power Limited's 26.45 lakh consumers have sought the subsidy, while over 79 per cent of the 16.68 lakh Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited consumers have applied for it. 75 per cent of the customers of BSES Yamuna Power Limited have requested the subsidy.
However, the lowest percentage of consumers who have applied for the subsidy belong to the New Delhi Municipal Council. Of the council's 48,000 consumers, only 34 per cent or 16,000 have applied for the subsidy.
The Delhi government charges no payment from domestic users consuming 200 units of electricity per month. Those consuming 201 to 400 units are paid a 50 per cent subsidy, capped at Rs 850.
The city's free electricity scheme has recently been the subject of a disagreement between the Delhi government and the lieutenant governor's office. CM Kejriwal claimed that the LG's office was conspiring to end the scheme, however, the office denied this assertion as incorrect and misleading.
The dispute started when Power Minister Atishi claimed that top power department employees were working with the lieutenant governor's office to sabotage the free power scheme. A plan is being formed to stop Delhi's free power, Kejriwal tweeted in response. But we'll never allow their conspiracy to succeed.
