Telangana govt provided Rs 15,946 crore power subsidy annually to 8 crore consumers

Hyderabad: A total of 8 crore electricity consumers in Telangana State have received energy subsidy touching Rs 15,946 crore annually.

This welfare push by the Government of Telangana, called Gruha Jyothi Scheme, has benefitted 52.82 lakh families. The ‘zero electricity’ bill is being seen as an attempt to help households who are trying to make ends meet.

Powering the poor and the farming community

The government’s subsidy strategy is a multi-pronged approach targeting the most vulnerable sections of society. While domestic relief is the most visible, the agricultural sector remains the backbone of the state’s support system.

1. Agriculture - Rs 13,499 crores benefit to 29.23 lakh farmers

2. Domestic users - Rs 2,086 crores benefit to 52.82 lakh households

3. Educational institutions - Rs 142 crore, benefit to 29,700 institutions

4. Weavers and mills - Rs 90 crore benefit to powerloom and spinning units

5. Micro businesses - Rs 96 core benefit to 70,700 laundries and 34,030 salons

How the relief is delivered

To ensure that ‘not a single rupee is wasted,’ the government said it has modernised its delivery mechanism through:

Direct-to-Discom transfers: Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka recently confirmed that Rs 3,593 crore has already been cleared and paid directly to power companies (Discoms) to cover the costs of these free units, ensuring the utility providers remain operational.

The 200-unit threshold: The Gruha Jyothi scheme is precision-targeted. Residents consuming up to 200 units per month receive a zero bill. This encourages energy conservation while ensuring the subsidy reaches those who need it most.

Smart accounting: A new Rs 1,300 crore plan is being rolled out to install smart meters at distribution transformers. This will help the government track actual consumption and reduce transmission losses, making the ‘free scheme’ fiscally sustainable.

Impact beyond the numbers

For farmers like those in Suryapet, 24/7 free power has moved them from ‘surviving the season’ to ‘planning for growth.’ For the urban poor, the elimination of a Rs 500–800 monthly electricity bill has increased household disposable income by nearly 10 per cent in many cases.

“Welfare is an investment, not a charity,” explained Bhatti in the recent Assembly session. “By removing the burden of basic utility costs, the state is betting on the increased spending power of its citizens to drive the local economy forward.”