New Scheme From SPI to Boost Power Demand of Minigrids

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SPI has launched a customer voucher scheme for minigrids customers, which is expected to have a significant positive impact on over 200 mini-grid villages

Smart Power India (SPI) said that it has launched a customer voucher scheme (CVS) for minigrids customers. The scheme is expected to have a significant positive impact on over 125,000 lives in 200 mini-grid villages, an SMI statement said. Mini-grid customers will be able to redeem the vouchers against their monthly electricity bill issued by Mini-Grid Operators (MGO) for a period of three months.

Amidst the lockdown, electricity demand has dropped by up to 70 percent, especially from commercial and enterprise customers, it said. As per the recent surveys conducted by SPI across mini-grid villages, rural households are prioritising their spending on food, shelter, and safety over electricity consumption.

The scheme, therefore, is expected to play a significant role in retaining the mini-grid customers during the lockdown and ensure continued on-time payment behaviour once cash flow improves, it added. Over the next three months, the scheme will maintain the electricity demand and restore MGO’s cash flow back to pre-lockdown levels, it said.

SPI, a subsidiary of the Rockefeller Foundation, was established in 2015 to develop and scale sustainable models to accelerate electricity access and spur economic development amongst the rural underserved communities.

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