THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The Goa Electricity Department has formally corrected electricity bills of 7.5 lakh consumers and begun dispatching them, marking the start of a sweeping set of consumer‑friendly reforms after the government stepped in to discontinue the levying of fines for breaching sanctioned load limits.
Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the department aims to complete correction of all erroneous bills within the next year.
“Consumers who were wrongly charged excess load penalties will get relief. The excess amounts collected will be adjusted in future bills,” he stated.
A public notice from the Chief Electrical Engineer confirmed that, as a one‑time measure, excess demand and excess energy charges levied on Low Tension (LT) consumers from November 2025 onwards have been withdrawn.
Bills issued between November 2025 and June 23, 2026, will be regenerated and consumers will now be charged only for actual consumption under the applicable tariff.
Penal charges and delayed payment charges linked to excess demand will be also removed.
The reforms follow months of public anger over inflated bills and penalties.
Protests had erupted across Goa earlier this summer, forcing the government to intervene.
Dhavalikar said the latest measures are designed to restore trust and simplify billing.
A key change is the Automatic Enhancement of Sanctioned Load mechanism, where consumers who exceed their sanctioned load will have it automatically enhanced to the highest demand recorded between November 2025 and June 2026. The process will continue monthly until March 31, 2027.
Consumers whose enhanced load remains within 5 kW (single‑phase) or 10 kW (three‑phase) will not need to apply or submit documents. Their load will be deemed regularised for billing. Those exceeding these limits must apply online within three months to regularise.
Officials clarified that automatic enhancement is only for billing purposes. It does not certify the safety of a consumer’s electrical installation and responsibility for ensuring adequacy of systems rests with consumers.
In another major reform, the department has simplified procedures for new single‑phase LT connections up to 5 kW. Applicants will now only need to submit proof of identity and proof of ownership or occupancy.
The earlier requirement of a wiring completion and test report from a licensed contractor has been waived. Mandatory joint inspections by Junior Engineers have also been scrapped.
Officials said the changes will reduce paperwork, cut delays, and make access to electricity faster and simpler.
