Arvind Kejriwal announces power subsidy for tenants in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections in February next year, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that power subsidy will be extended to tenants. People staying on rent in Delhi will now get free electricity up to 200 units under a new scheme which will allow them to install prepaid meters.

Tenants will also be eligible to avail the existing power subsidy scheme under which half the subsidy is given if the monthly electricity consumption is between 201 units and 400 units, Mr Kejriwal said after announcing the “Mukhyamantri Kirayedar Bijli Meter Yojana”.

Tenants, till now, were not able to get a separate power meter as they were required to take a no objection certificate (NOC) from the homeowner to get an independent connection, he said.

“We have removed this requirement so that tenants now get a prepaid meter using just two documents - rent agreement or rent receipt, and current address proof,” the chief minister told reporters.

Under the existing power subsidy scheme, Delhiites do not have to pay bills for electricity consumption of up to 200 units.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government also gives 50 per cent subsidy on bills for power consumption between 201 units and 400 units.

“It was a long-pending demand of tenants in Delhi. Tenants will have to get a prepaid meter installed after depositing a security money of Rs 3,000,” Mr Kejriwal said.

He said many homeowners have multiple tenants that significantly increases power consumption under a single connection, bringing them under a high tariff slab.

“Tenants had to often pay `8 to `10 per unit to their landlords. They were not able to avail benefits of the provision of free electricity of up to 200 units by the Delhi government. In fact, even homeowners in such cases have not been able to get the subsidy,” he said.

The chief minister said if a person has vacated the rented accommodation, the same prepaid electricity meter can be used by a new user after depositing a security money of Rs 3,000.