Excess use of power affects Gruha Jyothi beneficiaries

The state government introduced the scheme as part of its 6 Guarantees to avail free power up to 200 units a month for below poverty line (BPL) families. In view of the heat waves in March, April and May, several beneficiaries crossed the 200 units limit. This meant their abrupt exclusion from the Gruha Jyothi scheme.

Usually, BPL families limit their power consumption to less than 100 units so as to avail the low tariff. The Congress government provided them an additional favour, enabling them to avail upto 200 units for free under Gruha Jyothi scheme.

In Kamareddy district, 1.52 lakh out of the 2.72 lakh domestic connections were under the Gruha Jyothi scheme. People in rural and urban areas have been utilising the scheme after the Congress came to power. The BPL families were benefited by around `800 per month vis-a-vis free power supply.

The Telangana state northern power distribution company limited (TGSNPDCL) issued ‘zero’ bills to the customer using power below 200 units. However, the temperature recorded 45 degree Celsius during the peak summer, and these people used fans both day and night, as also air coolers. Following this, several consumers lost the benefits of the Gruha Jyothi scheme.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Srinivas Goud, a private sector employee, said he was unable to avail the Gruha Jyothi scheme for the past few months. “We crossed the 200 units mark,” he said.

TGSNPDCL Kamareddy circle superintendent engineer Ramesh Babu said, “We are collecting information about the Gruha Jyothi scheme implementation in the district. Numerous customers turned ineligible during the summer season.”

To a question, he said that if the Gruha Jyothi beneficiary used 201 units, s/he should pay the entire bill of 201 units as per the tariff.