SHIMLA, JULY 12 : In a significant move, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, has decided to end the provision of 125 units of free electricity for affluent sections of society.
This change, approved on Friday, targets IAS, IPS, HAS, HPS, Class-1, Class-2 employees, businessmen, taxpayers, and AB category contractors who would not be able to avail the free electricity scheme.
Notably, the provision for free electricity will continue for poorer households.

Despite the rollback, 80% of the state’s electricity consumers, out of the total 23 lakh, will continue benefiting from the scheme, affecting only about 20% of the consumers, said a Cabinet minister after the meeting.

The decision comes in response to the dire financial state of the electricity board, which is struggling with a burden of about Rs 1000 crore and facing problems in paying salaries.

Industry Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan said that this initiative by the previous BJP government had significantly exacerbated the board’s financial woes.

While the free electricity scheme, introduced during the 2021-22 election year, had provided relief to those consuming up to 125 units, the losses incurred have necessitated this rollback for wealthier consumers.

Chauhan also highlighted issues with multiple meters in affluent homes, which allowed well-off individuals to exploit the scheme. Henceforth, only one meter per household will be eligible for the free electricity scheme.(UNI)