PANAJI
Consumers across Goa have complained of unusually high electricity bills in May, with some suspecting that newly installed smart meters were to blame, but Electricity Department officials have clarified that the spike is due to households exceeding their sanctioned load limits during peak summer, which attracts penal charges.
Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar recently advised consumers to apply for an enhancement of their ‘sanctioned load’ to avoid penalties in the future.
“If your usage has increased, you must regularise it by applying for a higher sanctioned load,” he said.
A senior engineer explained that the sanctioned load is the maximum electricity capacity approved for a household connection.
“When consumption exceeds this limit, additional costs are levied as per the Electricity Act,” he said, adding that fans, air-conditioners and coolers running longer in May had pushed household consumption beyond their sanctioned thresholds.
To increase the sanctioned load, consumers must apply at their respective sub-divisions with a fresh test report of household wiring, certified by a licensed electrical contractor, accompanying their application.
Once approved, the sanctioned load is revised, ensuring bills reflect actual usage without penalties.
Authorities urged consumers to act promptly, stressing that ‘smart meters’ cannot be blamed as they only record consumption accurately and are not responsible for the inflated bills.
