MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026

Power Minister wants us to return to Dark Ages

With the kind of administration we have in Goa, surely we do not think much of our Ministers, lawmakers and enforcers, and bureaucrats. We may not expect much intelligence from them, but surely we do expect them to have some common sense and avoid being ridiculed by us, commoners.

An issue which is bothering everyone in Goa is the expected hike in electricity bills. Bad news for everyone, for there is hardly anyone who doesn’t use it. But what appears preposterous and is becoming, on social media, a subject of scorn and mockery, are the pronouncements made by the Power Minister that a discount of 20% would be given to those using electricity between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and a penalty of 20% to those using it between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. In other words, the Minister wants us to go back to primitive ages and remain in darkness throughout the night.

To add to this mental torture, which ordinary people will have to undergo, we are also being gifted so-called smart meters, which people fear will only inflate our bills, as there are no steps being taken by the Government in any field to alleviate people’s financial sufferings.

Recently, there was a massive protest at Downing Street in London over huge energy bills. But unlike in that democratic country, in Goa, one cannot expect such demonstrations because we have a Government which not only doesn’t care about people’s problems, but will also crush any demonstrations which go against their authoritarian and repressive rule.


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Don’t penalise Goans for using electricity at night

Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Published Oct 25, 2025, 11:52 PM IST
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Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday announced a new electricity billing system to encourage energy conservation and responsible use. According to the proposal, consumers who use less electricity will get a 20% discount. However, those who use more power between 5 pm and 9 am will face an additional 20% surcharge. The question many Goans are asking is: electricity is meant to provide light at night, so why penalise people for using it during the very hours when it is…

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