PANAJI
Consumers, particularly in South Goa, have raised complaints about inflated electricity bills in recent days. However, the Electricity Department has said there is nothing unusual about the increase, attributing it to new consumer categories introduced from October last year and penalties for exceeding sanctioned load limits.
According to Superintending Engineer Mayur Hede, the rise in bills is not unusual and, in most cases, is due to longer billing cycles (45 days or more instead of the standard one month) and penalties imposed for exceeding sanctioned loads.
Hede said that in many areas, billing was delayed as staff members were diverted to the SIR process, resulting in consumers receiving bills covering one-and-a-half to two months. “This led to consolidated amounts being reflected in single bills, making them appear higher than usual,” Hede said, adding that the new tariff system introduced by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) from October last year was another factor.
He said the revised system has created new consumer categories and imposed penalties on those using loads beyond their sanctioned limits. These penalties are now reflected in monthly bills.
Hede said the department had already issued newspaper advertisements urging consumers to apply online for an increase in their sanctioned load. He noted that many consumers had failed to regularise their load despite higher consumption. He clarified that the penalties have been in effect since October and urged consumers to apply for load enhancement at any time to avoid additional charges in future bills.
The clarification may ease concerns among some consumers, but others are expected to continue protesting high bills. While other political developments such as the CCP headlines and the upcoming by-poll in Ponda may dominate attention, electricity bills remain a pressing issue for households across Goa.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for whom affordable and reliable power supply is a key political issue, has already taken up the matter.
Its Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas, is holding consumer awareness meetings about high power costs in his constituency and other affected areas of Salcete.
