Delhi chief minister has announced to provide free electricity for all individuals consuming up to 200 units.

By Abhay Shah, Realty Quarter

On August 1, 2019, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced free electricity for people consuming up to 200 units in a move a few months ahead of the Delhi assembly polls. Kejriwal said his government would offer complete subsidies for people using up to 200 units of electricity at a press conference. The provision will continue to provide 50% of the subsidy to people consuming between 201 and 400 units.

“Those using up to 200 units of electricity in Delhi are not going to have to pay their electricity bills. They will not be charged for any electricity,” said Kejriwal, who is also head of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The government must spend Rs 1,800 crores to Rs 2,000 crores, on power subsidies every year, he said. “We hope that this move will give enormous encouragement to save electricity in Delhi because there are no charges for 200 power units. The load of electricity in Delhi has increased. The largest peak load of Delhi recently hit 7,400 MW. I believe that this step will decrease the load of electricity,” said Kejriwal.

According to officials, in summers, those who use up to 200 electricity units’ account for 35% of total consumers, while in the winter, the figure increases to 70%, as power usage is lower. Official data shows that 26 lakh users were consuming 200 units of electricity while those who consumed around 201-400 units were 14 lakhs in 2018-19. According to an official from the energy department, the households can operate a TV (LCD or LED), a refrigerator (up to 200 litres), a washing machine, three fans, 5 LED bulbs, 1 geyser (for an hour every day), for 30 days in 200 units.

Kejriwal called this as a ‘historic’ move; however, Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari called it a ‘poll stunt’. Today, electricity at the cheapest price is been circulated 24×7 in the country. The fiscal health of discoms’ has significantly improved and electricity infrastructure has become much better than imaginative, and individuals in Delhi do not need any more electricity inverters and generators,” said Kejriwal. The Delhi Assembly polls are due early in 2020. The choice by the government of AAP also arises after the party’s squeak-in to Lok Sabha polls, where it was relegated to the third position in five of the seven seats in the national capital.