UJALA

• Energy efficiency assumes significance for the nation in the current environment of shortages and concerns over climate change. The lighting itself accounts for about 20% of the total electricity consumption in India. Hon’ble Prime Minister, on 5th January 2015 launched the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All(UJALA) to provide LED bulbs to domestic consumers with a target to replace 770 million incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs by March 2019.
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a government company under the administrative control of Ministry of Power, Government of India, has been designated as the implementing agency for this programme. For domestic lights, EESL service model enables domestic households to procure LED lights at an affordable price of $0.154/- each and the balance on easy instalment from their electricity bill.

Objectives of the National Programme

The programme is designed to reduce energy consumption in the lighting sector and to promote LED-based efficient lighting products. The key objectives of the programmes are as follows:

• Reduce energy consumption in lighting which helps DISCOMs to manage peak demand
•  Promote the use of the most efficient lighting technology at affordable rates to domestic consumers which benefits them by way of reduced energy bill
• Enhance the awareness of consumers about the efficacy of using efficient appliances which in turn could change their buying preferences from low first cost based purchases to lifecycle cost.
• Increase the demand for LED lights by aggregating requirements across the country and provide an impetus to domestic lighting industry through economies of size.
•  Encourage and support domestic manufacturing of LED bulbs by sustaining demand making it consistent with the ‘Make in India’ policy of the Government.
•  Provide a sustainable service model that obviates the need for upfront capital investment as well as additional revenue expenditure to pay for procurement of LED lights. The total cost paid by consumers is less than the total savings in electricity bills.
• Create understanding about the service model amongst all stakeholders such as industry, government agencies, financial institutions, etc. so that market-based energy efficiency can happen.
• Provide a base model which can not only be replicated in lighting energy efficiency but also in the host of other energy-using appliances in domestic and other sectors. For instance, UJALA service model could be used for domestic appliances like fans, refrigerators, ACs, etc. where the consumer preference for purchase is still dictated by first cost and the level of penetration of energy efficient equipment in less than 10%.
• Create robust arrangements for monitoring and verification of energy savings in a simple and transparent manner.
• Standardise agreements, technical specifications, payments security mechanisms, implementation methodologies, etc. that can reduce the transaction cost and can stimulate replication.
• Create an enabling environment for private sector investments in the lighting sector.

National Dashboard

The progress of this initiative can be tracked real-time through the national dashboard www.ujala.gov.in

Beneficiary:

Domestic and Public Sector

Benefits:

Distribution of LED Bulbs