Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has announced a proposed 20 per cent tariff increase for consumers allegedly “abusing” electricity usage between 5 pm and 9 am as mentioned in the leading newspapers of Goa. However, this statement raises several concerns regarding its relevance and practicality: Electricity is a basic utility, and every consumer is entitled to use it according to their individual needs. It is unjust to generalise and penalise all users under the same label. The specified hours”5 p.m. to 9 a.m.”coincide with peak domestic usage, especially for working individuals who are away during the day. These hours reflect legitimate, essential consumption rather than abuse. Villages like Santo Estevam face frequent power outages, often attributed to the feeder at Corlim, Old Goa, which remains under perpetual maintenance throughout the year. These systemic issues must be addressed first. Given these realities, it would be far more prudent for the Power Minister to conduct a comprehensive ground-level review and prioritise reforming the electricity department.
