Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday voluntarily relinquished the subsidy on all five power connections registered in his name. He also said that affluent citizens with multiple electricity connections should relinquish subsidies to support the development of the state. Submitting the required documents to Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board chairman Sanjay Gupta, Sukhu urged the well-off individuals in the state to follow suit by using the online portal of the board, or by calling helpline numbers 1100 or 1912, or by visiting their nearest electricity sub-division. Addressing a press conference, the chief minister said all the Cabinet members and Congress MLAs in the state have agreed to forgo their subsidies following detailed discussions. "The government spends Rs 2,200 crore annually on electricity subsidies and Rs 200 crore per month on salaries and pensions of electricity board employees. Subsidies should be reserved for the needy, and the
The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday rolled back the previous Congress government's decision to reduce power tariff by Rs 3 per unit for consumers, a move which will yield Rs 1,500-1,800 crore per annum to the state exchequer. However, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said 300 units of free electricity per month for the domestic category will continue. In November 2021, the then Charanjit Singh Channi government slashed the power tariff by Rs 3 per unit for domestic consumers, having a connected load of up to 7 kW (kilowatt). The decision to withdraw the previous government's decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Cheema said the previous government had reduced the power rates by Rs 3 per unit for domestic consumers, having up to 7 kW load. "We withdrew that decision today," he said. But 300 units of free electricity, started by the AAP government, will continue, he added. Asked
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called an "emergency" meeting of his Cabinet at his residence here on Thursday to discuss the issue of power subsidy, officials said. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Cabinet may take a "major decision" on power subsidy for the next year, they said. The meeting will be held at 4 pm, they said. The Kejriwal government is providing free electricity to consumers with a monthly consumption of 200 units. A subsidy of 50 per cent is given to those who use 201-400 units per month.
The Delhi government on Tuesday issued a direction to power regulator DERC to conduct a special audit of discoms over power subsidy released to them from 2016 to 2022. An order issued by Special Secretary (Power) Ravi Dhawan stated that in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 108 of the Electricity Act 2003, the Lt Governor has given a direction to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) for conducting the special audit through Comptroller and Auditor General empanelled auditors. The special audit of the discoms with respect to the power subsidy released to them will cover the period 2016-17 to 2021-22, stated the order. The audit will ensure that the subsidies reach the targeted beneficiaries in the most transparent and efficient way, it said.
Lt Governor V K Saxena has approved the extension of power subsidy in Delhi, a move that came amid a row between the LG office and the AAP government after Power Minister Atishi said the scheme would end from Friday as the file to extend the subsidy was held back by Saxena. In the ensuing blame game, the Lt Governor office said the file of power subsidy was received from the government as late as April 11 and it was dispatched back on Friday morning. The file was signed yesterday and sent to CM today, before a press conference by Atishi. They are trying to save face, having obviously been caught on a very very embarrassing and wrong foot," said an officer at the LG office. A Delhi government functionary admitted the file to extend the power subsidy in the city was signed by the LG. The file of subsidy was held back by the LG and a press conference was held by the Power minister in this issue, he said. Atishi in a media briefing earlier in the day said power subsidy of 46 lakh ...
Delhi LG V K Saxena has asked Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to direct the power department to place the DERC advisory on restriction of power subsidy before the council of ministers and take a decision within 15 days. The LG made the instruction on the basis of a DERC's statutory advisory to the Delhi government to consider "restricting" electricity subsidy to the "poor and needy consumers." However the advisory was put in abeyance. Reacting to the instruction, the government said the Delhi LG has once again violated the Constitution and Supreme Court directives by "illegally" extending his remit. The report which forms the base of LG's directive was prepared by Kumar while looking into the complaint of power discoms' unpaid dues to generation companies and was submitted to the LG and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in December 2022, officials said. The chief secretary in his report said that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had advised the Delhi government in Octob
In a fresh round of face-off between the ruling Aam Admi Party and the Delhi Governor, the Kejriwal-led govt has accused the latter of again violating the Constitution and Supreme Court directives
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said power subsidy should be provided to looms for boosting the economic growth of over 2.5 lakh weavers in the state. The power corporation should make arrangements to provide subsidy to weavers for improving productivity. This will also prevent electricity theft, the chief minister was quoted as saying in an official statement. While reviewing a presentation regarding the MSME Weaver Scheme, Adityanath had a detailed discussion with officials on the consumption of electricity and the subsidy provided to the sector. The chief minister said at prominent weaving business centres such as Ambedkar Nagar, Varanasi, Mau, Gorakhpur and Meerut, feedback and opinions of traders should be taken. He also stressed on the use of solar power in the sector. "Currently, we are giving subsidies of up to Rs 30,000 for installing solar panels. Weavers must be encouraged similarly and work should progress on mission mode, "he said. The chief minister
The Karnataka government has decided to chalk out a scheme to give 50 per cent power subsidy to the professional weavers community in the state. It has also been decided to issue occupancy certificates for the weavers residing in weavers' settlements. Several such important decisions were taken regarding various demands of weavers at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai here on Saturday. The Chief Minister's Office, in a statement, said other decisions taken at the meeting included issuing an order giving concession from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for the weavers who are taking up weaving at home, by considering it as a 'cottage industry'. Also, to extend the 'Nekar Sanman' scheme to persons working in power looms, to fix the quantity to supply uniform required under 'Vidya Vikas' scheme from Karnataka Handloom and Power Loom Corporations, and to float a tender for the rest of the quantity -- work orders must be issued in December to ensure it is suppli
The Delhi government has extended the electricity subsidy application window -- that had closed on October 31, till November 15, officials said
The Delhi government has extended the last date to apply for power subsidy to November 15, officials said on Thursday. The last date to submit the applications, both online and offline, for subsidy on electricity provided by the government was originally set at October 31. Over 34 lakh of around 57 lakh consumers had applied for the subsidy by that date. The Delhi government has decided to provide subsidies to only those consumers who apply for concession. Consumers receive a full subsidy on electricity consumption up to 200 units a month. Those consuming up to 400 units receive a 50 per cent subsidy.
More than 40 per cent of the 56.98 lakh domestic consumers did not opt for power subsidy provided by the Delhi government till the last date of application on October 31, officials said on Monday. While more than 34 lakh domestic consumers applied for power subsidy, those who could not opt for it will have another chance to do so in the billing cycle of next month, they said. A total of 22,81,900 (40 per cent) domestic consumers were yet to apply for the subsidy, officials said. The Delhi government has made changes in its free electricity scheme deciding to provide subsidy to only those domestic consumers who apply for it. Till Monday afternoon, 34.16 lakh applicants opted for the subsidy and the number may slightly increase by the end of the day, officials said. "It means that many consumers have willingly given up subsidy. Chances are also that some consumers could not apply for the subsidy due to various reasons," a Delhi government officer said. The data will be studied and
Kejriwal had said many people want to opt out of the subsidy scheme and those who do not require it should not get it
The Delhi government's new electricity scheme, under which only those consumers who opt for the subsidy will receive it, came into effect from Saturday. According to officials, 25.63 lakh consumers have so far applied for the power subsidy, after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced last month that people can give a missed call or send a WhatsApp message on 7011311111 to opt for the subsidy. The domestic power consumers in the city eligible for the subsidy will not get it by default from October 1. Kejriwal had said many people want to opt out of the subsidy scheme and those who do not require it should not get it. The chief minister had also said the subsidy will continue for those who apply. There are 58 lakh domestic power consumers in Delhi, of whom 47 lakh avail the subsidy, including 30 lakh who get zero bills and 16-17 lakh who get a 50-per cent subsidy. At present, the consumers with a power consumption of less than 200 units do not have to pay any charges and those wi
The state government on July 17 last year launched the scheme
On an average, more than 11,600 Delhiites have opted in for power subsidy per hour, filing application with the discoms, since the process was launched by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Around 6.15 lakh power consumers in Delhi had applied for the subsidy by 5.40 pm on Friday. These included 2,58,852 BRPL, 1,73,875 BYPL, 1,78,584 TPDDL and 2,351 NDMC consumers, they said. The chief minister, at a press conference on Wednesday, had said power consumers in Delhi will get subsidy from October 1 only if they demand it by submitting offline or online applications. He had launched a phone number 70113 11111 for consumers to give a missed call or send WhatsApp message to opt for the subsidy. In the first two days, up to 5.30 pm on Thursday, around 3.4 lakh consumers had applied for power subsidy. More than 90 per cent of 58 lakh power consumers in Delhi digitally pay their electricity bills. Presently, consumers having up to 200 units of monthly .
AAP says enough money to pay subsidy, only giving an option to those who don't want it and the move would expose "double talk" of BJP
Under the current Delhi power subsidy rules, the power consumption of less than 200 units attracts a zero bill and, a subsidy of 50 per cent on the bill is given on a total of 400 units
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said online and offline methods will be made available to consumers to opt for power subsidy from Wednesday. At a press conference here, he said power consumers in Delhi can give a missed call on 7011311111 to opt for the subsidy from today. Kejriwal said many people wanted to give up power subsidy in Delhi. Those who want to avail subsidy will get a form that they can fill to apply. They can also give a missed call on 7011311111 whereby they will get a form on WhatsApp that they can fill up to apply for subsidy. Those applying for subsidy till October 31 will be paid subsidy of the month. Every month people can apply for subsidy, he added. Kejriwal also claimed that the BJP approached 10 MLAs of the AAP government in Punjab and alleged it was buying MLAs and breaking governments. The ruling AAP in Punjab on Tuesday accused the BJP of offering Rs 20-25 crore each to its MLAs in an attempt to topple the Bhagwant Mann government in the state. The Punj
The electricity bills from next month will probably have a form with "yes" or "no" option to opt for subsidy