PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has approved the Electricity Department’s proposal to scrap penalties for excess load violations and to automatically upgrade sanctioned load.
A senior official confirmed on Thursday that the file had been signed by the Chief Minister.
“We have just received the file from the Chief Minister’s Office and are in the process of drafting the circular, which involves some technical issues,” a senior engineer said.
He added that issuance of the circular may be delayed until Friday.
The decision marks the final step in a policy shift that has been in the works for weeks.
The government had earlier announced its intention to discontinue penalties and refund levies already billed after widespread public protests over inflated electricity bills.
Citizens and trade bodies had objected to the department imposing unjust charges linked to sanctioned load violations, sparking demonstrations across the State.
Sawant’s intervention followed mounting pressure from consumers, opposition parties, and civic groups.
The government assured that penalties collected over the past six months would be credited back to consumers in future bills.
The new policy also allows sanctioned load to be automatically updated based on actual meter readings, eliminating the need for consumers to file separate applications.
The circular, once issued, will formally implement the changes.
