The procurement cost of LED bulbs has fallen further to Rs 54.90 per unit from Rs 64.41 under Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme of the government, which will further reduce the retail price to around Rs 85.
"I am delighted to announce that LED bulb procurement price has dropped to Rs 54.90. It is 83 per cent reduction from Rs 310 just 20 months back," Power Minister Piyush Goyal said while launching the app Vidyut Pravah that provides information regarding power availability in the country.
The Energy Efficiency Service (EESL) implementing the scheme has already distributed 9 crore bulbs under DELP and other PSUs distributed 6 crore LED lights to consumers.
"Our global share of LED in India has moved up from 0.1 per cent to 12 per cent in less than 11 and a half months," he said.
The distribution of these 15 crore bulbs would result in savings of over Rs 4,500 crore every year.
In January, the procurement price of LED bulbs has fallen to Rs 64.41 from Rs 73 per unit under DELP.
"We will procure five crore bulbs at Rs 54.90 per unit. After pooling the price of these bulbs with those procured through earlier auction, I think the average retail price should come down to Rs 85 per unit from around Rs 90," EESL Managing Director Saurabh Kumar told PTI.
About the power minister's target to procure these bulbs at Rs 44 per unit, Kumar said :"We will procure minimum 20 crore bulbs in 2016-17 through auction and the procurement price can come down to Rs 44 as envisaged by the government."
Government has set a target of distributing 770 million LED bulbs under DELP to replace all filament lights and CFLs containing mercury, having environmental cost.
Talking about Vidyut Pravah mobile phone and web application, Goyal said: "It provides a wealth of information pertaining to the current demand met, shortages if any, surplus power available and the prices in the power exchanges on real time basis."
With this information in hand, consumers can ask their states to buy power for them to ensure 24X7 supply.
Taking note that power trading or booking is done a day in advance, the minster also asked his officials to work on a system so that electricity can be purchased from spot market on same day of consumption.
On this occasion, the Andhra Pradesh representatives said the state is launching a similar app on June 8, which will provide real time information about power availability at district level.
