In a major move to tackle the country’s chronic power crisis, the federal government has given its formal approval to a massive, decade-long project to replace old, power-guzzling fans in homes with modern, energy-efficient ones. The ambitious program, with a total estimated cost of over Rs. 350 billion, aims to significantly reduce the strain on the national electricity grid.
The project, prepared by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA), is designed to reach a vast number of citizens—50 million in rural areas and 38 million in urban areas. To kickstart the “Fan Replacement Program,” the Finance Ministry has already set aside an initial technical grant of Rs. 2 billion.
The core goal is to control the skyrocketing electricity consumption during the brutal summer months. Officials project that by switching to efficient fans, the national demand for power could drop by a substantial 5,000 Megawatts. For context, experts note that fans alone are responsible for a huge portion of summer energy use, accounting for about 12,000 MW of the over 17,000 MW demand from appliances.
The government has designed a user-friendly scheme to make the transition easy for consumers. Participation is completely voluntary. Interested households will be able to purchase the new fans through convenient installments, which will be added to their monthly electricity bills. The payment plan is based on Islamic banking principles and will involve only banks with a strong track record.
The process will be streamlined through an online portal. Registered fan suppliers will not only provide the new unit but will also handle the installation and the safe disposal of the old fan, ensuring a hassle-free experience for the consumer.
Authorities hope this initiative will be a win-win, leading to significant energy conservation for the nation and helping to alleviate the persistent power cuts that plague the summer season.
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