UJALA Scheme

Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme is a part of the Government of India’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country. The ordinary bulbs are extremely energy inefficient and are able to convert only 5% of input into light. LEDs consumer only one-tenth of energy used by ordinary bulb to provide similar / better light output. But since the cost of LED Bulbs is a barrier, the scheme was launched to provide low cost LED bulbs and make it available to all.

Salient Features

• UJALA scheme has been launched to promote efficient lighting by replacing the ordinary bulbs with LED lights.
• The overall target is to replace 200 million ordinary bulbs with LED bulbs, which would result in annual energy savings of 10.5 billion KwH and reduction of load by 5000 MW.
• The scheme is being implemented by Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public sector body of Government of India.
• Under the scheme, every grid-connected consumer can get UJALA LED bulbs at about 40% of the market price. The scheme also provided facility to pay for LED bulbs in EMIs.
• The scheme has been implemented in more than 12 states. LED bulbs are distributed through special counters set up at designated places. These bulbs are not available in ordinary shops.
• Anyone can obtain the bulb by presenting some documents including latest electricity bill copy, identity proof, residential proof and payment.

Subsidy

UJALA scheme is not a subsidy scheme. In this scheme, the total upfront investment and risk coverage is borne by EESL. The DISCOM pay EESL from actual energy savings over 5 years. Thus there is not subsidy required from government and there is no impact on electricity bills.