The government’s pledge to provide free electricity to the rural households for next three years has been approved. Starting this month, all rural domestic households are subsidized with free electricity up to 100 units per month. This was revealed, yesterday, by the economic affairs minister at the press conference.
Prior to the revision, the low voltage rural households user have been paying 85 per Nu.100 units. Now with subsidized traffic rate, up to 100 units will be provided for free for the next three years. The subsidy is mainly initiated to encourage the rural community to use electricity to cut down on their dependency on firewood and others.
The Economic Affairs Minister, Norbu Wangchuk said, the move is also expected to prevent rural-urban migration.
But those customers falling within the Thromdes and municipal will have to pay an additional of Nu.13 for every 100 unit of electricity from now onwards. Similarly, those consumers using low voltage will have to pay, an extra of Nu.42.
About Nu.1.5 billion has been injected by the government to offer subsidy to different categories of customers. Of the total, major chuck has been allocated to low voltage amounting to over Nu.1.2 billion and Nu.186 million medium voltage users.
Besides 100 units free for rural consumers, the tariff has increased for all consumers. On an average, the low voltage is increased by 14.7 percent. Likewise, for the low voltage bulk users increased by 19.8 percent to encourage prudent and effective use of electricity as majority comprised of government institutions.
The increase tariff is also seen on medium voltage consumers by 16.7 percent followed by 10.8 percent on the high voltage users.
