With the launch of Unnat Jyotiby Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme in Srinagar, Government on Tuesday said that the scheme would help in reducing the electricity bills of the registered consumers and enhance energy conservation across the State.Addressing a press conference Wednesday, Commissioner Secretary, Power Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta, who was flanked by Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) Saurabh Kumar, informed that consumers under the scheme would be able to buy high quality LED bulbs at a discounted rate of Rs. 20 each. He said the initiative is implemented by Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) through Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)- a joint venture of leading PSUs under the administration of Union Ministry of Power. The government of Jammu and Kashmir is providing subsidy for the scheme.Gupta said that Government is providing subsidy for the scheme and expressed satisfaction over the success of the scheme. “We will try to reach out though length and breadth of the State under this scheme. Our focus is that the registered consumers should be benefitted,” he said.
“This energy efficiency lamp will also come handy for the commercial establishments of the State,” Gupta said. He said under UJALA scheme consumers can purchase upto five LED bulbs of 9W each at a subsidized rate of Rs 20/bulb as against a market price of Rs.250- 300. “Government is aiming to distribute over 80 lakh bulbs to over 16 lakh households in the entire state,” he said. “With the distribution of these LED bulbs the state will have energy savings of 28.27 lakh kWh every day. He also informed that the registered consumers can buy the UJALA LED bulbs from nearest Khidmat/ CSC kendras. He said that LED bulbs provided under this scheme are of superior quality and come with a life of over 25,000 hours. “LEDs consume only one-tenth of the energy used by ordinary bulb to provide the same or better light output. LED bulbs also provide consistent brightness even in low voltage when compared to the traditional lamps which either fade off or fluctuate,” he said. He further said that energy efficient lamps have 10 years life and the consumers would get replacement warranty within three years.Managing Director, EESL, Saurabh Kumar said that EESL provides free of cost replacement for all technical faults for three years. He said that the replacements could be done through any of the distribution counters that would be operating within the city.
He said Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) was set up under Union Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects. EESL is a Super Energy Service Company (ESCO) that seeks to unlock energy efficiency market in India, estimated at US$ 12 billion that can potentially result in energy savings of up to 20 per cent of current consumption, by way of innovative business and implementation models. He also informed that the UJALA scheme was launched by the Prime Minister in January, 2015 with a target of replacing 77 crore incandescent bulbs with Energy Efficient LED Bulbs.“Currently, over 15.43crore LED bulbs have already been distributed across 18 states. This is leading to a daily energy savings of 5.49crore kWh and resulting in avoidance of 4,013 MW of peak demand. Through the scheme the estimated cumulative cost reduction of bills of consumers, per day is Rs. 21.96crores,” he said.Earlier Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti launched the Unnat Jyotiby Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme in Srinagar today.