The government has also paid the interest of Rs 663.54 crore on the outstanding balance.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has fulfilled the guarantee of providing free electricity to the people of Punjab. The Punjab government implemented the free electricity scheme from 1 July 2022, which reduced the financial burden on the pockets of Punjab residents. The Aam Aadmi Party government has brought zero bill to the people by giving 300 units free every month to the people of Punjab. Every household gets 600 units free in two months, eliminating the worry of paying electricity bills.

Due to the free electricity provided by the Punjab government in the state, the poor families have got a big relief. Punjab has become the first state in the country, where 90 percent of domestic electricity consumers have zero electricity bills.

The government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has set a new example by advancing the subsidy payment to Powercom. At the end of the last financial year 2022-23, the Punjab government has paid a subsidy of Rs 20,200 crore to Powercom. In this, the government paid Rs 1804 crore of the first installment as well as Rs 9020 crore outstanding during the previous governments.

It also includes Rs 9,063.79 crore of free electricity supply to farmers' motors, Rs 8,225 crore of domestic electricity consumers and Rs 2,910 crore of subsidy to the industrial sector. The government has also paid the interest of Rs 663.54 crore on the outstanding balance.

VDS has been introduced to increase load for residential class connections and the rates have been halved.