Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit reiterated the “commitment of her Government to safeguard all interests of the economically weaker sections”. Setting at rest all speculations about hike in power tariff, she said that the government will grant subsidy to freeze power tariff for agricultural and domestic consumers, which would remain at the level of 2004-05.

The government also decided to extend subsidy of Rs 1 per unit to those consumers who consume a monthly 150/200 units in non-peak and peak months respectively. The peak months are May, June, July, August during summer and December and January in winter season. Dikshit along with Power Minister Dr A K Walia were confident that the benefit of this subsidy would mostly percolate down to economically weaker sections and poor families.

Over 10 lakh families will be charged Rs 1 less per unit i.e. Rs 1.20 per unit during six months of the year. This will not only provide relief to those poor families whose consumption is limited but also exhort others to conserve electricity at large by limiting their consumption to remain within eligibility criteria for availing the subsidy. This decision would come into force from April 1 this year.