Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has voiced strong opposition to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board’s (TNEB) recent move to allow only one electricity connection in the name of the house owner. In a statement released on Sunday, Palaniswami criticized the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) for initiating door-to-door inspections to identify multiple connections in single premises.
Palaniswami recalled that during the AIADMK government, the policy provided 100 units of free power for both connections in a household, and he urged the current DMK government to maintain this status quo. He argued that the new policy would create financial burdens for house owners, particularly those who rent out portions of their homes.
“During the AIADMK government, we ensured 100 units of free power for both connections,” Palaniswami stated. “If a house owner lives in one portion and has a tenant in another, each would receive 100 free units. Under the new policy, if the tenant leaves and the house owner has two connections, one will be disconnected. When a new tenant arrives, the house owner must reapply for a new connection, incurring additional costs.”
Palaniswami also highlighted recent consumer protests against TANGEDCO’s order requiring the registration of Aadhar numbers for house owners. He called on the government to cease this practice and to stop collecting the Rs 60 disconnect and reconnect fee from consumers. He further emphasized the need for TANGEDCO to provide timely alerts and sufficient time for consumers to pay their electricity bills.
The former Chief Minister’s remarks come amid growing discontent over the new electricity policy and its potential impact on households across Tamil Nadu.