Power costs in Punjab have been lowered by Rs 3 per unit, effective immediately, announced Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, after a cabinet meeting. The Punjab government lowered power tariffs for residential users by Rs 3 per unit on Monday, barely months before the Assembly elections, putting a burden on the exchequer of Rs 3,316 crore each year. Punjab will vote early next year, and all parties have been fiercely campaigning in the province.
The decision is effective immediately and will benefit around 69 lakh people. In the state, there are around 72 lakh household users. Channi said that they are procuring power at lower rates and providing such a benefit to the consumers.
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Punjab CM Channi announced at a press conference on Monday that the first 100 units of electricity will be charged at Rs 1.19 per unit to all home users. It was previously Rs 4.19 per unit. Following that, the use of 100 to 300 units would be charged at Rs 4 per unit rather than Rs 7. Charges for more than 300 units will now be 5.76 rupees per unit, down from Rs 8.76 per unit previously.
Labelling it a Diwali Gift, the Punjab rates are now the cheapest tariff rates in the whole country. Three power purchase agreements will also be reviewed, and a bill would be introduced in the Vidhan Sabha in this respect, according to the CM. He further stated that the existing free electricity provision of up to 1 kW for Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and BPL groups will be maintained.
If their parties win the Assembly elections early next year, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal have already offered 300 and 400 units of free power, respectively. Navjot Singh Sidhu, a Punjab Congress leader, has also advocated for lower-cost power for the public.
