Haryana's New Scheme Offers Free Electricity To Poor Families In Ambala

Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini launched the state-level Pradhanmantri Surya Ghar (Free Electricity Scheme) in Ambala City on Monday. The event was organised by the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam in the police auditorium. VK Goyal, superintending engineer of UHBVN, said rooftop solar panels will be installed on houses of the lower middle class and poor.

This will help these families become both producers and consumers of electricity. It will also reduce their electricity bills. The central government will provide a subsidy of Rs 60,000 for 2-kilowatt panels. Engineer VK Goyal mentioned a survey showing that 1 lakh poor households consume up to 200 units of electricity monthly.

Under the scheme, families with an annual income up to Rs 1.80 lakh, as per the Parivar Pahchan Patra (family ID), will get additional support of Rs 50,000. This will help poor families benefit from the PM Suryodaya scheme and meet their domestic electricity needs. While launching the scheme, CM Naib Singh Saini made two announcements for electricity consumers.

The CM announced that the government has abolished monthly minimum charges in electricity bills. Now, people will only pay for the electricity they consume. During the programme, CM said, "From the land of Mata Mansa Devi, Ambala, the Pradhan Mantri Surya Free Electricity scheme has been launched for the people of Haryana today."

He added that a subsidy of Rs 1.10 lakh will be provided to 1 lakh poor families in Haryana for setting up a solar plant at home. This will help them become self-reliant and reduce their bills to zero. According to the PM’s dream, each home can become an energy provider.