In the budget session of the Assembly, Minister of Finance, Energy, and Petrochemicals, Kanubhai Desai said, in response to a question about the power relief given to the consumers of the state, that during the year 2024, the electricity rates were reduced twice in the state. This resulted in a total average relief of Rs.2004 crore to the consumers.
The expenditure incurred against the amount of electricity generated in the state is calculated every three months by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the fuel charge is fixed accordingly.
In the renewable energy sector, Gujarat stands at the top in terms of solar and wind energy. The state’s total renewable energy generation capacity has increased from 15,400 MW to 32,924 MW in the last three years.
Kanubhai stated that to achieve zero carbon emissions in the country by the year 2070, it is planned to generate 500 gigawatts of electricity through renewable energy sources. In which, he added, Gujarat has set a target of generating 100 gigawatts of renewable electricity.
During the year 2024-25, electricity rates have been reduced twice. With effect from January 1,2024, it was reduced by 50 paise per unit, and from October 1,2024, it was reduced by 40 paise. Thus, in the year 2024, the total average relief to consumers has been of Rs.2004 crore. This reduction will continue to be applicable for the state’s 1 crore 50 lakh electricity consumers till the next review by the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The minister further said that due to this reduction, a total relief of Rs.189.54 crore has been provided to the 3,02,410 consumers of Morbi district during the year 2024. On the other hand, relief of Rs.21.65 crore has been provided to the 4,12,193 consumers of Patan district during the year 2024.
Related to the matter of the relief given to the BPL card holders of the state in the electricity bill rates, Kanubhai claimed that electricity rates of BPL card holders are lower than those of the consumers of other residential areas.
Apparently, the fixed charge for residential area consumers is Rs.15 to 70, while for BPL card holders it is Rs.5. In rural areas, the charge for the first 50 units is Rs.2.65, whereas in urban areas, the charge for BPL card holders is Rs.1.50 per first 50 units as compared to Rs.3.05 for the first 50 units.