PANAJI
Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Saturday said electricity consumers who have already paid penalties for sanctioned load violations will have the amounts adjusted against future bills.
His assurance comes a day after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered a halt to the rollout of smart meters and the levy of fines for load violations until a comprehensive review is completed.
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader however expressed displeasure over PWD Minister Digambar Kamat’s public protest at the Margao Electricity Department's office.
“He should not have gone there. The matter should have been discussed before the Cabinet by him,” Dhavalikar remarked, signalling unease within the ruling establishment over the handling of the controversy.
Dhavalikar also defended the department’s actions, insisting that the public had been informed in advance through multiple media advertisements about the need to increase sanctioned loads and the introduction of smart meters.
The minister also rejected claims by the Opposition that the smart meter rollout was sudden or arbitrary.
“These measures and decisions were not taken abruptly. They are based on directives of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) and the Central Government. Most States across India have already implemented similar steps,” Dhavalikar said.
The minister also welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision to pause implementation, describing it as a prudent move to allow verification of loads and to ease consumer concerns.
He nonetheless emphasised that those who had already paid additional charges would not lose their money, as the excess (penalties) would be adjusted in subsequent billing cycles.
The issue of inflated bills and penalties has triggered widespread protests across Goa, forcing the government to step in. Opposition parties and NGOs have accused the Electricity Department of mismanagement and of failing to educate consumers about the implications of smart meters and sanctioned load requirements.
Dhavalikar’s statement marks the government’s latest attempt to calm public anger in an election year but his defence of the department directly contrasts BJP State president Damu Naik’s sharp criticism earlier in the day, when he blamed officials for poor communication and mismanagement.
Goa’s electricity consumers have been up in arms for weeks over inflated bills and penalties linked to sanctioned load violations. The rollout of smart meters, coupled with sudden fines, also triggered protests across villages and towns.
Residents of Anjuna staged symbolic demonstrations, serving rice gruel in a “pej andolan” at the department's headquarters in Panaji.
In Margao, citizens led by PWD Minister Digambar Kamat marched to the Electricity Department office, denouncing the charges as unjustified.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also escalated the agitation, threatening marches to the Power Minister’s residence and demanding 300 free units of power per month, citing Delhi and Punjab as models.
The controversy had left the government scrambling to restore public trust and Sawant was forced to intervene and halt the smart meter rollout and levying of fines for load violations.
