The range of exemption given by the Government of Chhattisgarh under the Half Electricity Bill Scheme has been amended. Now 50 percent concession will be given on monthly consumption of up to 100 units in place of exemption of 400 units given every month. The government has said that out of 45 lakh domestic consumers of the state, about 31 lakh families (about 70%) are such that consumption does not exceed 100 units per month.
The Government of Chhattisgarh says that in such a situation, despite this revision of the exemption limit of half electricity bill, these 31 lakh needy general and weaker sections will continue to get the benefit of the scheme as before. About 70 percent of the domestic consumer families of the state will continue to benefit from the half power scheme.
Poor families committed to relief in electricity
Let us tell you that in these 31 lakh families, 1.5 million BPL (below the poverty line) families are also included, who will continue to get the benefit of the Half Electricity Bill Scheme. These families will continue to receive up to 30 units under the free power scheme as before. Along with this, they will also benefit from all other benefits of Half Electricity Bill Scheme. The state government is committed to provide relief to poor families in electricity expenditure.
The state government is giving momentum to the Prime Minister’s Suryagh Free Power Scheme, under which a subsidy of ₹ 78,000/- from the Central Government is being given up to ₹ 78,000/- and ₹ 30,000/- from the state government up to ₹ ₹ 1,08,000/-. A 75% (₹ 90,000/-) grant is available on a 2 kW capacity solar plant, so that consumers can produce more than 200 units per month. This production is currently more than the maximum exemption from the half electricity bill scheme (200 units exemption on 400 units).
Consumers will also be able to earn additional income
The electricity bill of average consumers up to 400 units is usually more than ₹ 1000/-, which will be almost zero after the installation of the solar plant. This type of consumer will lead to free electricity bill scheme from Half Electricity Bill Scheme and will get long -term savings. Consumers will be able to get additional income by flowing the remaining electricity in the grid in addition to electricity produced on their own roof.
Consumers setting up roftop solar plants will be able to earn additional income by using electricity produced on their roof as well as by flowing the remaining electricity into the grid. Under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Yojana, 25 percent of the remaining cost consumers can bear themselves, or get loans from the bank at a minimum interest rate. The monthly installment of this loan will be around ₹ 800/-, which is currently less than ₹ 1000/- the average electricity bill payable at 400 units.
This decision of the state government is a strong and visionary effort to give relief to poor and middle class consumers, and to motivate them to energy self -reliance. This scheme will lead the state on the path of clean energy, self -reliance and economic savings.
