In what could be termed a big relief for thousands of consumers residing in Bhilai Township, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has extended the half electricity bill scheme of State Government. The Energy Department of State Government issued an order in this regard on Friday. This decision comes after prolonged demands from consumers within the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) vicinity who were previously excluded from the scheme due to BSP’s direct electricity supply. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy Chief Minister T S Singhdeo have extended this scheme’s privileges to the residents of BSP, marking a noteworthy development. Under this scheme, all domestic consumers of the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) will enjoy a 50% reduction in their electricity bills for consumption up to 400 units per month.

 

This scheme, operational since February 2019, has already benefited over 42.82 lakh consumers, with cumulative rebates exceeding Rs 3,900 crore. The recent order stipulates that domestic consumers within BSP’s distribution licensee area will receive a 50% concession on fixed charges, energy charges, and variable cost adjustments for electricity consumption up to the first 400 units per month. This extension of the scheme is scheduled to come into effect on September 1, 2023, and will remain active until further notice. The state government will ensure reimbursement equivalent to the concession to the consumers through the budget, thus enabling BSP to allocate the necessary funds in its budget. The Energy Department will periodically submit appropriate proposals to facilitate budget allocations by the state government. This move is expected to benefit around 27 thousand domestic consumers in the BSP region, offering them substantial relief on their electricity expenditures. As the state government continues its commitment to affordable and accessible services, this expansion of the electricity bill reduction scheme reflects a positive step toward supporting consumers’ financial well-being.