Delhi’s power subsidy will soon be available only to consumers who opt in through Aadhaar-based verification, following a notification issued by the power department and a Delhi Gazette notice. The existing subsidy will continue until the Delhi government launches the new opt-in system and activates its online portal, which officials expect to happen in November.
Under the proposed process, consumers will log in to the portal using their electricity consumer numbers and will then be asked to register and verify their Aadhaar details. The requirement will apply to consumers covered by the subsidy scheme across all distribution companies in the capital.
The Delhi Gazette notification states that an individual seeking the benefit of the power subsidy must furnish proof of possession of an Aadhaar number on the web portal. An official said the move was intended to link subsidies to Aadhaar and streamline benefit delivery.
The official also said the change was being introduced because some consumers had indicated that they wanted to opt out of the subsidy because they could afford to pay their electricity bills. The department also wants to verify dormant consumers. According to the official, one consumer linked to one Aadhaar number may eventually be permitted to claim the subsidy for multiple electricity connections.
The system currently operates on the basis of consumer numbers rather than Aadhaar details. Delhi had introduced an opt-in arrangement in 2022 under the then AAP government, requiring consumers to give consent before receiving the subsidy. That system was later discontinued, and eligible domestic consumers have since received the benefit by default.
Consumers using up to 200 units of electricity a month currently receive a 100% subsidy, reducing their electricity bill to zero. Those consuming between 201 and 400 units receive a 50% subsidy capped at Rs 800. Consumers using more than 400 units a month are not eligible for the benefit.
The scheme covers a large share of Delhi’s domestic electricity users. The report said that of 75 lakh domestic electricity consumers in the capital as of September 2026, around 64 lakh were eligible for the subsidy. During the winter months, the number of consumers receiving free power rises to about 50 lakh.
Government spending on the subsidy increased to Rs 4,037 crore in 2025-26 from Rs 1,442 crore in 2015-16. The proposed Aadhaar-based opt-in system will therefore change how a major urban utility benefit is accessed and verified, while the subsidy slabs and eligibility thresholds remain unchanged in the information currently available.
The Delhi government is framing the detailed rules for the scheme. Consumers will have to complete Aadhaar compliance through the portal after it is activated, with the formal launch expected in November.
