The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) will shift to monthly electricity billing from January next year, the chief minister told the assembly. He said smart metres would not be mandatory for domestic consumers. He said the government will begin the stock market listing of the West Bengal Power Development Corporation. He said listing the corporation would strengthen its finances, improve transparency, create employment and increase corporate social responsibility spending. The assembly approved the power department's demand for grants of Rs 53.41 bn for the current fiscal by voice vote. The proposals were made while he replied to a debate on the budget. WBSEDCL will replace the three-month billing cycle with monthly statements and will double night mobile service vans in rural areas and manpower at customer care centres this financial year. The state will implement PM-KUSUM with an additional subsidy of Rs two per unit for agricultural electricity from August one. The company will also develop a network of EV charging stations across the state under the Centre's PM E-Drive scheme, including facilities for commercial vehicles. On generation, the government proposed an 800 MW supercritical thermal unit at Bakreshwar at an estimated cost of Rs 100.7 bn and a 200 MW floating solar project at the Bakreshwar reservoir with a 320 MWh battery system at an estimated Rs 20.14 bn. A battery system at Kolaghat is estimated at Rs 12.38 bn alongside a solar project. The state will seek to increase captive coal production and sell around three mn t of surplus coal to raise revenue. He announced development of a 1,000 MW pumped storage project at Panchet with the Damodar Valley Corporation and participation in the Centre's Vibrant Villages Programme in nine border districts. Priority power connectivity will be given to railways, national highways and central projects. Under the power department's corporate social responsibility programme, sanitary napkin vending machines will be installed in 1,000 higher secondary girls' schools and colleges and 54,000 Integrated Child Development Service centres will receive free electricity connections.