Free power riders wreck plans of Karnataka residents

BENGALURU: For thousands of citizens who invested in induction cooktops and other electrical appliances in anticipation of the government’s promise of 200 units of free power, the energy department’s order notifying the rules and regulations for the ambitious ‘Gruha Jyothi’ programme has come as a shocker. Providing no scope for misuse of electricity, the department’s rider has left many disheartened.

Prior to the formal announcement of ‘Gruha Jyothi’ guarantee, several citizens, both in urban and rural areas, were buoyed by the pre-poll promise of ‘free power’ and bought induction cooktops and other electrical gadgets, hoping to cut down on their monthly domestic expenditure. However, the department’s decision to restrict free power to the monthly average annual consumption during the last year with a provision of only 10% additional usage has come as a big let-down.