Delhi Discom To Replace 5,300 Old ACs With New Energy Efficient ACs

Delhi discom BRPL gets approval to relaunch its AC Replacement Scheme

Delhi-based power distribution (discom) company BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) is now all set to relaunch its initiative to replace older inefficient air conditioners (ACs) with 5-Star energy-efficient ACs for its consumers. The domestic power consumers getting power through BRPL in their region would be eligible under the scheme to avail the scheme’s benefits.

As per the ‘AC Replacement Scheme’ scheme, BRPL gives special rebates of up to 64 percent to empower its consumers to help shun inefficient ACs and replace them with 5-star, BEE-rated energy-efficient ACs with the hand-holding support from the discom.

BRRL, earlier in 2016, had proposed replacing around 10,000 old ACs with new energy-efficient ACs to help its consumer shift to energy-efficient measures and thus reduce the load of ACs during summers on these discoms. The scheme ran up to March 2021 and helped replace 8,732 ACs with energy-efficient ones. BRPL claimed that it helped in the annual saving of 8.81 Million units (MU) of power annually, with the estimated annual energy saving at the discom periphery up to 7.36 MU.

The discom now plans to revive the scheme. It planned to restart the scheme with a target of replacing 5,300 old ACs for its domestic consumers in its entire area of operations in Delhi. BRPL mainly operates in the national capital’s East and Central Delhi regions.

It has planned to continue the scheme from FY 23-24 to FY 25-26. It recently also sought approval from the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to start the relaunch of the programme. The DERC, while hearing a petition in this regard, has now approved the plan of the discom to relaunch the scheme.

As per the scheme, domestic consumers could avail of the scheme’s benefits on a first-come-first-serve basis. The discom has planned to replace 300 old ACs in 2023-24, while it plans to increase the annual target to 1200 ACs for 2024-25. It has also planned to take the annual target up to 1,500 ACs during FY 25026.

“The estimated annual energy savings due to using energy-efficient air conditioners over old inefficient air conditioners is 1276.8 units per air conditioner, and estimated annual monetary saving per air conditioner would be Rs. 7997/-. Upon successful implementation of the scheme, estimated cumulative annual energy saving for consumers for a total of 5300 air conditioners will be around 6.77 MUs per year, and annual monetary saving at consumer’s end shall be to the tune of around 4.24 crore,” BRPL said in its petition before the DERC.

The total estimated present cost of the project stands at Rs 2.84 crore, including the administrative and implementation cost of Rs 0.14 for a three-year period.