The sweltering heat in Bengaluru has driven up electricity bills this summer. While many consumers have noticed that their electricity consumption has gone up by at least 50 units in the last two months, data from the Energy Department shows that the beneficiaries of Gruha Jyothi scheme in February were fewer by 50,000 when compared to January in the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company’s (Bescom) Bengaluru Metropolitan Area Zone (BMAZ).
In January 2024, a total of 32,30,746 domestic installations benefited from the government’s flagship Gruha Jyothi scheme, under which consumers who utilise up to 200 units of electricity get a zero bill. In February 2024, 31,80,604 domestic installations benefitted from the scheme, which shows a difference of 50,142 beneficiaries. The subsidy amount for January was ₹221.96 crore whereas for February, it was ₹213.80 crore.
