If the electricity consumption exceeds 600 units in two months, then the consumer will have to pay for the entire power usage.
Chandigarh: Toeing his political guru and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s line, the newly-inducted Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, on Saturday announced 300 units of free electricity for all households from July 1. The free electricity was among a slew of other poll promises the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made in the run up to the assembly election.
However, the free electricity scheme comes with a few riders. For people hailing from the scheduled caste and backward caste communities, those below the poverty line and freedom fighters, who currently get 200 units of free electricity, they will get 300 units like the others and would have to pay only if their consumption is more than 600 units in two months that too, only for the exceeded units.
For the others, if the electricity consumption exceeds 600 units in two months, then the consumer will have to pay for the entire power usage. Mann also said that the tariff for both industrial and commercial users will not increase and will remain free for the farmers.
Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh while speaking to the media said, “During elections, we had guaranteed of 300 units of free electricity. Today, an announcement has been made to implement this from July 1. We need to examine a few things, so it took some time.”
Congratulating the Punjab government, national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Bhagwant ji, many congratulations for this wonderful decision. We fulfilled our first promise. We do what we say. Don’t make false promises like other parties. Now an honest, patriotic government with clear intentions has come. Will save money by ending corruption. Will not let the lack of money in the progress of Punjab.”