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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in the recently held Punjab Assembly elections with a wave of support. At the heart of the party’s campaign for that election was a promise – to provide 300 units of electricity per month to every family free of cost if AAP comes to power.
Voting is done, sources said, adding that officials in the government were now working overtime to ensure that the promise is fulfilled at the earliest, with some key announcements likely to be made on April 16, when AAP’s month in office ends. Will be done.
According to the data available with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, if AAP’s promise of free electricity is implemented literally in Punjab, about 62.25 lakh of the state’s approximately 73.80 lakh household consumers – who have more or less consumption. Up to 300 units per month – there will be profit.
However, the number of consumers varies seasonally – they may be higher in winter and less in summer. A PSPCL official said, “Around 62.25 lakh is the average number of consumers, which we have arrived at on the basis of past consumption patterns across multiple billing cycles.” Indian Express, This, he said, works for around 84% of the consumers, who will benefit from implementing AAP’s promise.
When asked about how the subsidy would work, an official said that the Punjab government is already providing a subsidy of Rs 3998 crore per year to domestic consumers under various categories – to about 21.83 lakh SC/BC/BPL consumers. Annual domestic subsidy of Rs. Rs.1657 crores, and subsidy of Rs.2341 crores per annum to consumers with load up to 7KW as per the existing policy (64.46 lakh consumers). These subsidies together amount to about Rs.3998 per annum.
Notably, SC/BC/BPL consumers are already being given free first 200 units per month with Rs 3 per unit less electricity being charged for various slabs for consumers with load up to 7 kW.
PSPCL officials said that if the government decides to provide free power to consumers whose consumption is up to 300 units per month, the total subsidy burden per year would be Rs 5,500 crore. “However, this subsidy has been calculated on the basis of historical data of consumers and how they have been consuming electricity in the past. We are apprehensive that this subsidy is likely to increase because as per our data, a large number of consumers were consuming up to 150 units per month, who will now try and consume 300 units per month as it will be free. There is also the possibility of many families sharing their meters to get the benefit of the subsidy. Apart from this, others can reduce their power consumption to come under the 300 unit slab. So, it all depends on how the consumers behave and what scheme the government announces for the public,” said a senior PSPCL official on condition of anonymity.
Highly placed sources in PSPCL also confirmed that the officials have worked out a variable subsidy scheme considering various options.
AAP spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said, “The AAP government is working on how to guarantee 300 units free of cost to the voters of Punjab as we are committed to providing relief to the people.” All the promises made will be fulfilled. We are expecting that once the piracy stops, our income in the excise and mining departments will increase. Tax collection is also likely to improve after the end of Inspector Raj in offices. If the sources of income increase, then we will be able to give relief to the consumers.
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