The Bihar government is preparing to launch a campaign encouraging financially well-off households to voluntarily give up the benefit of 125 units of free electricity. Starting December 1, 2026, electricity distribution companies will send SMS alerts to consumers, requesting them to opt out of the subsidy through an online portal.
The initiative follows an appeal by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who urged income tax payers and financially capable households to voluntarily surrender the free electricity benefit.
SMS Campaign to Begin on December 1
Under the proposed initiative, electricity consumers across Bihar will start receiving SMS messages from December 1. These messages will contain a link to a dedicated online portal being developed by the Energy Department.
Consumers can click on the link, access the portal and select the option to voluntarily give up the free electricity benefit.
According to officials, the process will be voluntary, allowing consumers to decide whether they wish to continue receiving the subsidy or opt out of the scheme.
What Did CM Samrat Choudhary Appeal For?
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had recently appealed to income tax payers and financially well-off families to voluntarily give up the benefit of 125 units of free electricity.
He compared the initiative with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to financially comfortable households to surrender their LPG subsidies.
The Chief Minister said that people who can afford to pay their electricity bills should come forward and voluntarily give up the government subsidy.
Government Spends Around Rs 23,000 Crore on Electricity Subsidy
According to the Chief Minister, the Bihar government spends approximately Rs 23,000 crore annually on electricity subsidies.
The scheme currently benefits around 1.92 crore households across the state. As per the figures shared by the Chief Minister, households receive an average annual subsidy benefit of approximately Rs 10,000.
The government expects that voluntary surrender of the subsidy by financially well-off consumers could help reduce the financial burden on the state exchequer.
Will the 125 Units of Free Electricity Scheme Be Discontinued?
The proposed campaign does not indicate an immediate withdrawal of the 125 units of free electricity scheme for all consumers. Instead, the government aims to encourage financially capable households to voluntarily opt out of the benefit.
The SMS campaign and dedicated online portal are expected to make the opt-out process accessible from December 1.
