E-Paper
Power subsidy for tenants runs into address hurdle
New Delhi:
New Delhi:
The three private power distribution companies (discoms) have received more than 3,700 calls ever since the Delhi government announced a new scheme to enable tenants to avail of subsidies on electricity bills by installing prepaid meters.
The discoms are, however, facing multiple issues, the first being the address proof provided by tenants.
On September 25, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the ‘Mukhyamantri Kirayedar Bijli Meter Yojana’, under which prepaid meters can be availed of by tenants with an initial investment of Rs 6,000 that includes Rs 3,000 as security (refundable) and an equal share of installation cost. To get the meters installed, the interested tenants have to call up helpline numbers of the discoms concerned.
Instead of providing a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the landlord, they will be required to produce an identification document for the address where the meter is to be installed and a rent agreement or receipt.
Interested residents and discoms said the criteria of providing an ID proof having the same address (where the prepaid meter is to be installed) is turning out to be a problem.
“Discoms told the power department most interested tenants had been unable to provide IDs for the same address. Only about 10% of the total calls had accurate documentation,” said a senior government official.
From September 25 to 30, the three discoms – BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) – received 3,720 calls from interested tenants who wanted to get prepaid meters installed.
BRPL, which caters to South and West Delhi, saw the highest demand with more than 2,200 calls, followed by BYPL (1,000 calls) which supplies power to East and central. TPDDL received 520 calls in the same period.
But for even those tenants with proper documents, the discoms said they had been unable to install the meters because the government is yet to notify the scheme. “The process is on,” a senior power department official said.
Government officials on condition of anonymity said the highest demand is from neighbourhoods such as Laxmi Nagar and Dwarka. Laxmi Nagar, for example, received about 100 calls a day from interested tenants.
Earlier, there was a provision for tenants to get separate meters and avail of the subsidy. But, that would require acquiring a NOC from the landlord, which was often denied for fear of alleged encroachment of properties, the chief minister said at a press conference on September 25.
Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party government announced its power subsidy scheme in 2015, many of those living on rent had been derived of the benefit as they complained landlords would charge them a fixed amount per unit. The rates would often range from Rs 6-10 per unit depending on the size of the house and the locality.
Under the existing subsidy scheme, Delhiites do not pay bills for electricity consumption of up to 200 units or bills up to Rs 800. The government also gives 50% subsidy on bills for consumption between 201 units and 400 units.
