Question : Access to Electricity

(a) whether energy is the engine of growth and no country can ever develop with millions of its citizens living without electricity and access to energy is a prerequisite for a poverty free India;

(b) if so, whether the Union Government has prepared a scheme in consultation with the State Governments to provide electricity connection to every poor household in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether DISCOMs are axis of power sector and these are running in heavy losses and if so, the steps taken or suggested to plug DISCOM losses;

(d) whether there is a need to route subsidies in power sector through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and if so, the steps taken to stream line the subsidies in the power sector; and

(e) whether a mechanism is needed to be put in place so that power from most efficient plants is utilized first to bring down electricity prices and if so, the guidelines issued in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND
NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI R. K. SINGH )

(a) : Yes, Madam.


(b) : Government of India have launched Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya” with an outlay of Rs.16,320 crore including Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs.12,320 crore from Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural and urban areas. Under the scheme, all States/UTs are required to complete the works of household electrification by 31st March, 2019.

(c) : Government of India launched Ujawal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) for the operational and financial turnaround of Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) in November, 2015. The scheme aims to bring AT&C losses to 15% and reduce the ACS–ARR gap to zero by Financial Year 2018-19.

(d) : Subsidy, if any, to the electricity consumer is provided by State. Considering that Electricity is concurrent subject, States have to decide method of subsidy payment.

(e) : Merit order dispatch mechanism is already available in the country for procurement of required quantum of power by the DISCOMs at optimal cost. Under this mechanism, the power from most efficient plants with least variable cost are utilized first by the DISCOMs.


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