Patna, in the first session of Legislative Council on Tuesday, RJD's Kumar Nagendra had asked a question related to keeping BPL families free from smart meter and giving 200 units of electricity free of cost per month. His argument was that the reading of smart meter is not correct if there is no appropriate voltage.

He gave technical basis for this. Energy Minister Bijendra Yadav refused to accept any such science. He clearly said that smart meter works on the basis of electricity usage. The government is buying electricity at a high rate and giving it to consumers at a low rate.

Understand the brunt of giving free electricity from these states

The situation of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka can be understood as to what is the brunt of giving free electricity. More than 52 lakh smart meters have been installed. The complaint should be big, which is not the case.

Recently, in a seminar organized by the Union Energy Minister, a consensus has been reached on installing smart meters across the country. Delegations from six-seven states have already visited Bihar to become aware of this system. BPL families are already being given free electricity upto 50 units.

There are a total of about 59 lakh BPL consumers in the state. Out of them, 10 lakh consumers have smart meters.

To provide them cheap electricity, subsidy is being given on a large part (73.4%) of the fixed tariff (electricity rate). This rate is Rs 1.97 per unit.

Push button in rural areas

When the balance of the prepaid meter is less than the average consumption of seven days, the consumer is informed through SMS. When the balance is zero, the information is given again.

After that, the power supply is stopped on the fifth day in rural areas and on the third day in urban areas between 10:00 am to 02:00 pm.

The push button facility has been provided in the smart prepaid meters of rural areas, using which the consumers can keep their electricity supply on for three days even if there is a negative balance.

Bihar government is buying electricity at the rate of Rs 7.42 per unit

Providing it to consumers at the rate of Rs 5.42 per unit

Electricity is being provided to BPL families at the rate of Rs 1.97 per unit

Subsidy of Rs 15343 crore is to be given on electricity in 2024-25