Cabinet to Address Occupancy Certificate Concerns for Power Connections – Energy Minister George

Bengaluru Express
Bengaluru, May 30: Energy Minister K.J. George reassured the public that the challenges caused by the mandatory requirement of an Occupancy Certificate (OC) for electricity connections will be addressed in an upcoming Cabinet meeting, with a resolution expected shortly.

After visiting the KPCC office on Thursday and hearing concerns from party leaders and workers, Energy Minister K.J. George emphasized that the government deeply understands the challenges faced by the housing and industrial sectors due to the mandatory Occupancy Certificate (OC) requirement for electricity connections. He added that the Chief Minister has instructed the Chief Secretaries to deliberate on the issue in the Cabinet meeting and submit a report outlining possible solutions.

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive, the government has made the Occupancy Certificate (OC) mandatory for electricity connections. However, to address the challenges this has created, a by-law amendment is being considered. The issue was recently discussed in a Cabinet meeting, where the Chief Secretary was tasked with preparing a report outlining potential solutions. Energy Minister K.J. George assured that once the report is submitted, the Cabinet will take a final decision to resolve the issue and ensure minimal inconvenience to the public.

No Issue with Gruha Jyothi De-linking:

Responding to concerns from party workers about difficulties in de-linking the old RR number and linking a new one when shifting rental houses under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, Energy Minister K.J. George reiterated the government’s support. He stated that the de-linking and linking process is now available online. He assured that if any individual faces specific problems, they can approach the concerned officials to get them resolved.

He further stated that currently, 1.60 crore households are benefiting from zero electricity bills under the Gruha Jyothi scheme. The government has already released a subsidy amount of approximately ₹9,000 crore to the respective ESCOMs in this regard.

Our government has prioritized renewable energy projects, and during the summer, electricity was procured from other states on an exchange basis to ensure uninterrupted supply to consumers, thereby preventing power shortages. Currently, 65% of the state’s total electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources. As a result, surplus power is presently available in the state. Measures are being taken to address issues arising in the distribution process, Energy Minister added.