The decision by the Sai government to discontinue the electricity bill halving scheme is viewed as an injustice to the public. Under the new policy, the scheme is limited to consumers with a consumption of up to 100 units. This change has resulted in a significant portion of the state’s consumers being excluded from the benefits. Previously, even if consumption exceeded 400 units, the bill was halved for the first 400 units. The Congress party has voiced its opposition to this policy change.
During its five-year term, the Congress government implemented the electricity bill halving scheme, providing relief to electricity consumers despite challenging circumstances. This initiative benefited approximately 44 lakh domestic consumers across the state, saving each household an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 rupees over five years. The previous scheme covered nearly every consumer in the state, offering discounted rates for up to 400 units.
Furthermore, the government recently increased electricity prices for the fourth time. Domestic consumption saw a rise of 10 to 20 paise per unit, while non-domestic electricity rates increased by 25 paise per unit. The most significant increase was for agricultural pumps, with a rise of 50 paise per unit. Within a year and a half, the Sai government has raised domestic electricity rates by a total of 80 paise per unit. Following the BJP government’s establishment, the public is reportedly experiencing electricity shortages and issues such as power cuts and low voltage, a contrast to the Congress government’s provision of 24-hour electricity supply, supplemented by purchases from other states during peak demand in the summer.