PANAJI
The State government has formally scrapped penalties for excess electricity load violations and introduced new protocols for upgrading consumer load.
A circular finalised at a meeting between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) Stephen Fernandes was to be issued on Friday.
Emerging from the meeting, Fernandes said domestic consumers will now be slotted into two slabs – 5 kW and 10 kW.
“Consumers with a sanctioned load below 5 kW will have their load automatically increased to 5 kW. Similarly, consumers with loads below 10 kW – for example, 6 kW – will have their sanctioned load increased to 10 kW as per the applicable category,” Fernandes said.
“Also, consumers with loads above this limit of 10 kW will have to apply separately for load enhancement, and the department will give them three months’ time to comply,” Fernandes said after the meeting.
He also explained that single phase connections will be automatically upgraded up to 5 kW but once the load exceeds 5 kW, the consumers will have to convert to a three-phase connection.
Those requiring sanctioned loads above 10 kW must apply separately for enhancement. A three-month window will be given for compliance.
Fernandes also confirmed that penalties collected from consumers between November and June for excess load will be reversed.
“Penalties already paid will be credited back in forthcoming bills,” he said.
The decision marks a major shift in policy after weeks of public anger when it reached a flashpoint earlier this summer after households across Goa received unusually high electricity bills.
Many consumers alleged that penalties linked to sanctioned load violations were arbitrarily imposed and the simultaneous rollout of smart meters added to confusion and distrust.
Protests erupted in several areas and citizens and political parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), staged demonstrations outside electricity department offices.
The Congress and the AAP accused the government of burdening people during peak summer months and several civic groups warned that the penalties were unjustified and demanded immediate relief.
Sawant stepped in earlier this month, directing the department to halt penalties and review the smart meter rollout.
The latest circular now formalises the relief, while setting clear load categories to prevent future disputes.
Electricity department officials said the new system aims to simplify billing and reduce conflict. By automatically upgrading sanctioned load to match actual consumption, the department hopes to eliminate the need for repeated applications and avoid penalties.
With penalties now scrapped and refunds assured, the government expects tempers to cool but political parties and consumer groups will remain watchful to insist on transparency and guard against the resumption of the smart meter rollout which is currently halted.
