State sanctions Rs 156.56 crore for Gruha Jyothi scheme

The Telangana Government has sanctioned Rs 156.56 crore to DISCOMs for implementing the Gruha Jyothi scheme in March 2025. The funds will be used to supply free electricity up to 200 units per month to domestic households.
According to GO. Rt. No: 10 issued on March 24 by the Energy Department, the release is part of the broader budgetary allocation of Rs 1,612.12 crore made under the Gruha Jyothi scheme for the financial year 2024–25.
The administrative sanction enables Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) and other DISCOMs to issue “zero bills” to eligible households, effective from March 1, 2024.
The sanction follows a request from TGSPDCL’s Chairman and Managing Director Musharraf Faruqui, IAS, seeking advance payment of Rs 156.56 crore to cover the cost for March. Of the sanctioned amount, Rs 118.99 crore will be debited under the general category head of account, Rs 23.48 crore under the BC sub-plan and Rs 14.09 crore under the ST sub-plan.
The Assistant Secretary of the Energy Department has been directed to draw and credit the amount to TGSPDCL’s account through ECS. The power utility has also been asked to submit a utilization certificate for the same.
The move comes at a time when Telangana has already recorded an all-time high power demand of 17,162 MW in March due to increasing consumption in all sectors.