Indian consumers from Nashik, a northern district of Maharashtra State, were given only one option to pay for LED bulbs—cash only, reported The Times of India.

Most utility companies in India have given local residents the option of paying off LED bulb purchased under government incentives through equal monthly instalments (EMI), but The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is forcing people to pay bulbs upfront in cash.

Under the country’s Domestic Efficient Lighting Program (DELP) to promote the proliferation of LED bulbs, the bulbs are sold at a price of INR 100 (US $1.49), about a quarter of the market price INR 400.

Still, not all families are able to make the upfront payment, especially for multi-bulb purchases.

According to LED bulb vendors and stalls, the EMI payment option has not been made available because related software from MSEDCL has not been installed in retail venues.

MSEDCL officials also admitted software to link purchases to energy bills were still to be installed in all its offices, causing the payment scheme to be unavailable in certain areas.

"It is most likely that we will be installing the software in April since officers and employees are preoccupied with matters related to the end of the financial year. Once the facility has been installed, people will be able to make purchases on EMI basis and the recovery will be linked to the account. Every month INR 10 per LED bulb purchased will be included in the monthly energy bill till the amount is recovered," the officer said.