Gurgaon Electricity Provider DHBVN Reduces Load Norms, Resulting in Cost Savings
In a move aimed at reducing electricity costs for residents and businesses, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has revised the load norms for electricity connections in Gurgaon. The load refers to the total electricity supply provided to a meter and is measured in kilowatts (kW).
Under the new norms, if a consumer’s electricity consumption is lower than the prescribed load, they will be charged the minimum amount linked to the load. This means that consumers in group housing societies will see a reduction of up to 16% in their electricity bills, while commercial consumers will enjoy a benefit of up to 43%. However, if their consumption matches or exceeds the load, the new norms will not have any impact on them.
The revision of load norms comes as a result of instructions received from the chief minister during the Urban Development Conclave held last year. DHBVN Managing Director Amit Khatri highlighted that the relaxed norms will be applicable with immediate effect across various areas such as residential sectors, colonies, flats, shopping centers, and industrial plots.
The revised load norms vary depending on the size and classification of the plot. For instance, for plots with a size of 2 marla, the power load is now set at 6kW for class A cities, 4kW for class B cities, and 2kW for class C areas. Class A cities include hyper-urban areas such as the Gurgaon-Manesar Urban Complex, Faridabad-Ballabgarh Complex, and Gwalpahari-Balola Bandhwari Complex. Class B cities cover cities like Hisar, Palwal, Hodal, Rewari, and Dharuhera-Bawal, while all other urban areas are classified as class C.
In addition to residential areas, load norms have also been revised for group housing societies and industrial plots. For example, group housing societies with economically weaker section (EWS) flats with an area of up to 350 square feet will have a load of 3kW. Medium-income group flats with sizes ranging from 351 to 1,450 square feet will now have a load between 4kW and 8kW, depending on the consumption. Similarly, high-income group apartments with sizes from 1,451 to 3,000 square feet will have a prescribed load of 10kW-16kW, while ultra-luxury apartments with an area of 3,001 square feet or more will have a load of 18kW-20kW.
For industrial plots, load norms have been set based on the type of commercial area and its green rating. Commercial areas with high-density ‘green’ buildings will now have a load of 12kW per 100 square meters of the approved floor area ratio (FAR), while high-density ‘non-green’ buildings will have a load of 14kW per 100 square meters.
The revised load norms are expected to provide cost savings for consumers in Gurgaon, reducing their electricity bills significantly. By aligning the load with the actual consumption, consumers will now have the opportunity to pay a minimum amount based on their electricity usage. This move is not only in line with the instructions received from the chief minister but also promotes a sustainable and efficient use of electricity in the city.
