Political compulsions and poll promises are set to take a huge toll on the state’s finances as power subsidy has risen by more than three times during the last decade, putting additional burden on the state government. The power subsidy in 2013-14 was Rs 6,324 crore and expected to touch Rs 20,000 crore by this fiscal.
The increase has occurred mainly in the past three financial years after free and subsidised power supply to domestic consumers started. In 2021-22, the subsidy was Rs 10,679 crore, which rose to Rs 15,845 crore in 2022-23 and then Rs 18,714 crore in the current financial year.
