Soon after the Delhi power regulator DERC announced a reduction in fixed charges of power tariff, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that this is the fifth consecutive year that Delhi’ites were spared a power tariff hike.

He claimed that on the contrary for the fifth consecutive year electricity tariffs have been reduced in the city.

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Commenting on the decision of the DERC, Kejriwal tweeted: “Congratulations Delhi! For fifth consecutive year no electricity tariff hike. On the contrary, for fifth consecutive year, tariffs reduced. Delhi has lowest electricity tariffs in the country now. And Delhi is the only place in India with 24×7 electricity.”

Congratulations Delhi

For fifth consecutive year NO electricity tariff hike. On the contrary, for fifth consecutive yr, tariffs reduced. Delhi has lowest electricity tariffs in the country now

And Del is the only place in India wid 24×7 electricity

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 31, 2019

Addressing a press conference, deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, “Delhi is the only state in the country that has not allowed electricity bills to rise for five consecutive years. Not just have prices not gone up, they have actually gone down during the last five years.”

Sisodia added that “In every other state in the country, electricity prices continually increase year-on-year. In Delhi, the electricity bill for 200 units with 2 kW load in 2010 was Rs 539. In 2013, this went up to Rs 928. In 2018, the bill was Rs 660, and after today’s order the bill for 200 units will now be Rs 408”.

Projecting the “improvements in power supply” in Delhi during the last five years of the AAP-led government, Sisodia said, “The other major achievement of the Kejriwal government has been the substantial reduction in power cuts. The number of power cuts has plummeted in the last five years. Power cuts were a regular feature in Delhi only some years ago. Now the generator set, inverter industry has been forced to shut down because of regular and reliable power supply in the city.”

Delhi power minister Satyendra Jain told the press conference that “The other big benefit announced today is for Delhi’s small traders, businessmen and service providers. Consumers’ tariff using a commercial connection up to 3 kW load has been slashed from Rs 8.50 to Rs 6. This will significantly benefit local kirana shops, doctors, CAs, and others.”

Explaining the actual impact that today’s reduction in fixed charges will have on households, the power minister said, “The fixed charges for 1-2 kW sanctioned load was Rs 125 per kW, which has now been slashed to Rs 20 per kW. For 2-5 kW, it was Rs 140 per kW and has been reduced to Rs 50 per kW. From 5 kW to 15 kW it used to be Rs 175 per kW which has now been reduced to Rs 100 per kW. All households that consume up to 15 kW load will benefit in the range of Rs 122 to Rs 1305 per month.”