Punjab Shines with 11.40 Crore ‘Zero Bills’; Mann Government Delivers What Past Regimes Couldn’t

Chandigarh: Punjab is today witnessing a new model of governance that has lifted a big financial load from the lives of ordinary people. The ‘Zero Electricity Bill’ promise, launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government, has turned out to be much more than just an election pledge — it has become a real revolution.

This guarantee has brightened the homes of lakhs of families across the state. Unlike the empty promises and costly power rates of old governments, the current leadership has proved that when policies and intentions are honest, real help for the public is possible.

How has this scheme changed the lives of Punjab’s families?

The biggest sign of this program’s success is that 90 per cent of households in Punjab now benefit from the ‘Zero Electricity Bill’ plan. This is not a small achievement — it is direct financial relief for a large share of the state’s population. In just one billing cycle during August–September 2025, the bills of 7,387,460 families were reduced to zero.

This record-breaking result shows that the scheme is reaching people in every corner of the state, helping them save between ₹1500 and ₹2000 each month. Many families are now using these savings for their children’s education and other essential needs.

What do the numbers reveal about this achievement?

The figures themselves tell the full story. From the start of this scheme in July 2022 until October 31, 2025, the Punjab government has issued 113,943,344 — nearly 11.40 crore — ‘Zero Electricity Bills’. Along with that, 134,632,343 (over 13.46 crore) consumers have received subsidized power. These huge numbers are a strong reply to previous governments that failed for decades to provide such basic relief to citizens.

Now that 90 percent of Punjabi families get zero bills, a question naturally arises — why couldn’t earlier governments do this? The truth is that they never had the will or vision to create people-friendly policies.

For them, the public was only a vote bank, to be wooed with fake promises during elections. Those in power earlier were busy misusing Punjab’s money for personal gains and never tried to ease the financial burden on common people. Their priority was not the welfare of Punjab, but their political masters.

How does this link to the ‘Roshaan Punjab’ mission?

This effort by the Mann government forms a key part of the ‘Roshaan Punjab’ mission. The aim of this mission is not only to light homes but also to empower the state’s backbone — the farmers, known as the ‘Annadata’.

The government is ensuring that 13.50 lakh farmers continue to receive free power for agriculture. This lowers their input costs, increases their income, and supports the nation’s food security by strengthening Punjab’s farming sector. This stands in sharp contrast to the anti-farmer attitude shown by earlier governments.

Is the ‘Zero Bill’ scheme a lasting solution?

This is not just a one-time relief effort — it’s a strong and ongoing policy that benefits people every year. The data speaks clearly: during financial year 2023–24, the government issued 35,959,088 (around 3.60 crore) ‘Zero Bills’, and in 2024–25, it gave out 34,577,832 (around 3.46 crore).

This steady continuation shows that the government not only has vision but also sound financial management to make it work consistently. The scheme is not just “free” — it is well-planned and smart. For usage up to 600 units, people get a full waiver — no cost for power, fixed charges, meter rent, or taxes.

Also, a safety cover protects weaker groups (SC/BC/BPL). If they use more than 600 units, they pay only for the extra units used. This proves that every detail has been carefully thought out to help all sections of society. These results — 11.40 crore ‘Zero Bills’, 90% of homes getting relief, 73.87 lakh families, and 13.50 lakh farmers — show that Punjab has entered a new age of governance.

This is the ‘Punjab Model’, built not on empty words but on solid guarantees. The Bhagwant Mann government has pulled Punjab out of the darkness of past misrule and placed it firmly on the path of ‘Roshaan Punjab’, where every citizen feels valued, respected, and empowered.