NEW DELHI: Delhi’s aam aadmi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has run up an electricity bill of about Rs 1.35 lakh from two meters for June at his official residence – 6, Flag Staff Road, Civil Lines.

While it is unclear how much power was consumed on account of official government work and how much was consumed at the CM’s private residential quarters, the staggering amount raises questions about the issue of energy conservation propagated by the AAP government . Tata Power Delhi is, meanwhile, planning to send a notice to the CM’s residence for "misinterpretation of facts", alleging that the secondary meter for office-related work should be under commercial tariff.

According to sources, two meters have been installed at the CM’s premises, both in the domestic category. The one for his residence has 34 kW sanctioned load and the other with 70kW load is for the chief minister’s office which holds Janata Durbar and official meetings. "Earlier, the load of the two meters, before the CM shifted to this house in April, was 70 kW total but PWD applied for an enhanced load of 104 kW. The application stated both meters should be domestic category connections," said sources. According to the latest electricity bills raised for the CM’s residence, one meter recorded consumption of 2,510 units that led to a bill of Rs 22,689 payable by June 8, 2015. A secondary meter recorded a consumption of 11,637 units which amounted to a bill of Rs 1,13,598. This bill is dated June 18, 2005.

Sources said the CM’s residence has over 30 air-conditioners though it is unclear how many are in his private quarters. A 35 kW domestic load, however, can take the consumption of at least 12-15 air conditioners, said officials

The discom is now arguing that the meter installed for official work should be a commercial one. "The secondary power meter is clearly meant for office work, meeting party workers, janta durbars etc which related to the commercial category. The application for load enhancement clearly stated that both meters would be used for domestic power consumption. We will have to raise revised bills in retrospect from April onwards," said sources in the discom.

“We have already stated in the past that the CM’s power bill for his private residence is quite low and the secondary meter is installed for office-related work like party meetings, janta samvad etc," said a government spokesperson. "Calling the bills raised under the secondary meter as domestic bills is factually wrong. But if the connection for the secondary meter is domestic, then we will ask the general administration to change it to commercial."

Interestingly, former law minister Jitender Tomar had also applied for two domestic connections in his north Delhi residence, saying one was for his household and the second for party-related matters. Tata Power refused him a domestic connection for the second meter, saying they could given only a commercial one. "By changing Kejriwal’s secondary meter connection from domestic to commercial, the bill raised will also be doubled. Commercial rates are much higher than domestic," said a power sector official.

