Revanth Reddy
The Telangana government announced a spectacular scheme for the middle-class households in the state. The government has started to provide up to 200 units of free electricity to the state residents under the newly announced Gruha Jyothi Scheme. Nonetheless, the Revanth Reddy govt allocated Rs. 2,418 crore for this scheme in the upcoming Vote on Account budget for 2024–25.
On Friday, D. Anasuya, Panchayat Raj Minister of Telangana State, formally launched this zero electricity billing initiative, the Gruha Jyothi Scheme, in Mahabubabad’s Kothaguda and Gangaram mandals. Under this scheme, the Discoms have already started handing out ‘zero electricity bills’ to beneficiaries. Reports say that across the state, several consumers received ‘zero’ bills who consumed less than 200 units of electricity.
The beneficiaries in Sangareddy, Mahabubabad, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Mulugu, Bhupalpally, Wanaparthy, and other districts along with the several parts of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits received Zero electricity bills from the meter readers of The Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) received zero bills on Friday.
What is the scheme?
As per the guidelines of the Gruha Jyothi scheme, all consumers who consume less than the average of 200 units of power would get a zero electricity bill. The average will be counted on the basis of usage in the 2022–23 financial year.
Even those who are receiving non-zero bills remain beneficiaries under this scheme. As per the guidelines, non-zero bill recipients should only have to pay for their consumption beyond the entitled units. The officials said that the discoms will send monthly electricity consumption details to the govt by the 20th of every month. After asserting the details, the govt will release the subsidy amount to the discoms.
The eligibility criteria:
According to the govt order, the applications that are received through the ‘Praja Palana’ along with the other govt programs which are linked to Aadhar will be covered under this free electricity scheme. Consumers who are eligible for free electricity but are receiving non-zero bills can approach the local GHMC and other concerned municipal bodies from March to apply for the scheme.
On verification, if the consumer is found eligible, a revised bill will be issued to them as per the scheme’s provisions. However, if a consumer has more than one meter, the scheme would be only limited to a single meter.
Strict action against illegal users:
The power officials also strictly warned consumers to use this scheme only for household purposes. If anyone is found using electricity under the Gruha Jyothi Scheme for a non-domestic purpose, strict and severe action would be taken against them under the Electricity Act and the Indian Penal Code, the officials cautioned.
