BENGALURU: Energy department officials are closely watching the power consumption pattern and consumers’ electricity usage pattern. This could lead to a revision in the list of consumers availing the Gruha Jyothi scheme.
According to the state government’s scheme, consumers are entitled to 200 units of free electricity, with 10 per cent variation in average consumption. With rising temperatures, there is an increase in power consumption which could change zero billing for consumers.
“There has been a rise in power demand and consumption, and a reduction in the number of consumers falling under the scheme. We are also assessing the number of consumers which has dipped from March 2024 to March 2025. This will give a clear picture of consumption, and how the scheme should be managed in future,” said a senior energy department official.
In the recent state budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said the total number of consumers registered under Gruha Jyothi is 1.62 crore and Rs 10,100 crore will be provided this financial year to Energy Supply Corporations Limited (Escoms) for the scheme, compared to Rs 9,657 crore during the last financial year.
According to energy department data, till January 2025, the number of consumers registered under the scheme is 1,72,79,199 and the number of beneficiaries is 1,63,20,725. However, in December 2024, the number of registered consumers was 1,72,31,251 and the beneficiaries were 1,63,05,498. The subsidy released by the government for December 2024 was Rs 779.032 crore, and for January 2025, it was Rs 785.54 crore.
The total number of consumers delinked from the scheme till December 2024 is 2,19,886, while the number delinked till March 17, 2025, is 2,28,111.
The official explained that the total number of consumers eligible for Gruha Jyothi scheme is 1,95,35,846, and they are LT-1 and LT-2 consumers. The number of people availing the scheme is changing. Calculation of the dip in consumers is based on the total consumers left after delinking.
Also, with summer temperatures starting to flare from February, we are calculating the number of consumers availing the scheme in February and March 2024, and February and March 2025, to know the actual position, the official added.