New Delhi: Power distribution company BSES Rajdhani has proposed a large-scale Behavioural Energy Efficiency (BEE) programme to help households in south and west Delhi reduce electricity consumption through small, daily changes in electricity-use habits. The discom has filed a petition with Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission seeking approval to implement the programme across its licensed areas for three years.Tata Power-DDL, the discom for north and northwest Delhi, undertook a similar step in 2021 through its Behavioural Demand Response programme. The initiative encourages consumers to voluntarily reduce non-essential electricity use during peak demand hours. It forecasts periods of high electricity demand and notifies enrolled consumers in advance via WhatsApp and SMS about upcoming peak demand windows, known as BDR events, along with practical energy-saving tips, for example, using the airconditioner on auto mode. Participants are also encouraged to temporarily switch off or limit the use of non-essential appliances during these periods to reduce pressure on the grid and improve system reliability.An official said the initiative had attracted more than 1.5 lakh consumer enrolments till now and delivered cumulative energy savings of around 1,461.7MW up to the 2025-26 financial year. Tata Power-DDL now plans to expand the programme to enrol around 2.5 lakh consumers.BSES Rajdhani’s programme is based on a pilot project undertaken for 18 months from April 1, 2018, covering two lakh domestic consumers, to generate verifiable energy savings. The software studied individual lifestyle and electricity consumption patterns to generate customised Home Energy Reports, providing consumers with insights and comparisons with similar households in the region. These reports also suggested actionable steps to improve energy efficiency.“The programme is designed to empower consumers by giving them customised feedback based on their electricity usage patterns. This helps them make informed decisions and gradually adopt more energy-efficient habits,” a govt official said.Unlike conventional energy efficiency measures that usually require upfront investments, behaviour-based interventions focus on simple actions such as optimising AC use, switching off idle appliances, adjusting thermostat settings and avoiding unnecessary consumption during peak hours.According to discom sources, international experience with such programmes shows that utilities worldwide consistently achieved energy savings of 1-3% per household. Based on the pilot results, BSES Rajdhani projected average savings of 1-1.5% under the proposed programme.Officials said the programme would also increase consumer awareness about broader energy initiatives such as rooftop solar adoption. “Such programmes show an evolving approach to power management, combining behavioural science, digital tools and data analytics to influence consumption patterns, instead of relying solely on infrastructure expansion,” said a govt official.
