<p>The Gruha Jyothi free power scheme will require Rs 13,000 crore annually and 96 per cent of households with electricity connections will be covered, Energy Minister K J George said on Saturday.</p>.<p>Speaking to reporters, George said there are 2.14 crore households with Revenue Register (RR) numbers in the state.</p>.<p>George said the government would calculate the annual average consumption of a household and provide a buffer of an additional 10 per cent usage.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/unemployment-dole-penalty-if-job-status-is-concealed-says-karnataka-govt-1224589.html" target="_blank">Unemployment dole: Penalty if job status is concealed, says Karnataka govt</a></strong><br /> </p>.<p>"If this falls within 200 units, the household is eligible for free electricity. If a household crosses its annual average consumption and the 10 per cent buffer, they will have to pay for the extra units," the minister said. </p>.<p><strong>Criticism</strong></p>.<p>However, the Congress is receiving criticism for "misleading" citizens. As things stand, the Gruha Jyothi is not a blanket '200 units free for everyone'. During election campaigns, Congress promised free power up to 200 units without strings.</p>.<p>Having stormed to power, Congress leaders are now in a bind. The annual average power consumption of a household is being taken as the base in order to make the scheme financially viable, according to sources. </p>.<p>"If people are consuming 60-70 units on average, why should they be made to consume 200 units? If everybody consumes 200 units, the subsidy will be 45,000 crore," an official explained. </p>.<p><strong>Wary of misuse</strong></p>.<p>Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that the government has given the 10 per cent buffer to help families shift to additional electrical equipment if needed.</p>.<p>"For instance, some people are buying electric stoves because the LPG is costly. The whole point of Gruha Jyothi is to aid families cope with inflation," he said. </p>.<p>The government is also wary of electricity misuse. "A person whose annual consumption is 100 units cannot once and for all jump to 200 units," Shivakumar, a former energy minister himself, said. </p>.<p>The Gruha Jyothi will kick in from the July power bill that will be generated in August.</p>.<p>Any arrears in power bills up to June-end have to be cleared by consumers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah specified after Friday's Cabinet meeting, where the Gruha Jyothi scheme roadmap was approved. <br /> </p>
<p>The Gruha Jyothi free power scheme will require Rs 13,000 crore annually and 96 per cent of households with electricity connections will be covered, Energy Minister K J George said on Saturday.</p>.<p>Speaking to reporters, George said there are 2.14 crore households with Revenue Register (RR) numbers in the state.</p>.<p>George said the government would calculate the annual average consumption of a household and provide a buffer of an additional 10 per cent usage.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/unemployment-dole-penalty-if-job-status-is-concealed-says-karnataka-govt-1224589.html" target="_blank">Unemployment dole: Penalty if job status is concealed, says Karnataka govt</a></strong><br /> </p>.<p>"If this falls within 200 units, the household is eligible for free electricity. If a household crosses its annual average consumption and the 10 per cent buffer, they will have to pay for the extra units," the minister said. </p>.<p><strong>Criticism</strong></p>.<p>However, the Congress is receiving criticism for "misleading" citizens. As things stand, the Gruha Jyothi is not a blanket '200 units free for everyone'. During election campaigns, Congress promised free power up to 200 units without strings.</p>.<p>Having stormed to power, Congress leaders are now in a bind. The annual average power consumption of a household is being taken as the base in order to make the scheme financially viable, according to sources. </p>.<p>"If people are consuming 60-70 units on average, why should they be made to consume 200 units? If everybody consumes 200 units, the subsidy will be 45,000 crore," an official explained. </p>.<p><strong>Wary of misuse</strong></p>.<p>Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that the government has given the 10 per cent buffer to help families shift to additional electrical equipment if needed.</p>.<p>"For instance, some people are buying electric stoves because the LPG is costly. The whole point of Gruha Jyothi is to aid families cope with inflation," he said. </p>.<p>The government is also wary of electricity misuse. "A person whose annual consumption is 100 units cannot once and for all jump to 200 units," Shivakumar, a former energy minister himself, said. </p>.<p>The Gruha Jyothi will kick in from the July power bill that will be generated in August.</p>.<p>Any arrears in power bills up to June-end have to be cleared by consumers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah specified after Friday's Cabinet meeting, where the Gruha Jyothi scheme roadmap was approved. <br /> </p>
