the goan I network
PANAJI
Power consumers in the State, including commercial and industrial, only got a minor concession of a mere reduction from two to one per-cent in the late payment surchage (LPS) for power bills of the March 24 to June 30 period.
The decision to extend the concession in LPS was conveyed to the Electricity Department by the Gurgaon headquartered Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) which is the apex authority on tariff and other consumer matters in the power sector for Goa and Union Territories.
The JERC, however, has made no other concessions either tariff related or bill payment deferment as was sought by several industry organisations in view of the severe and adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another minor concession granted to consumers is the extension by two weeks the 'payment due' dates of the March 24-June 30 period, including of the bills already raised by the department. Consumers will not have to pay any LPS for up to two weeks from the 'Payment Due' date mentioned in their bills for this period.
Industrial and commercial consumers, meanwhile got an additional minor concession with a moratorium on payment of fixed charges for their bills of the March 24 to June 30 period. It is only a moratorium and the fixed charges are to be recovered in a staggered manner in three consecutive bills after June 30, the JERC said.
