The Goa government has decided to waive penalties imposed on electricity consumers for using power beyond their sanctioned load, following a public backlash. Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes announced on Wednesday that penalties already collected will be returned and adjusted as credit in future bills for consumers who have paid.
Decision after meeting with Chief Minister
Fernandes stated that the decision was taken after a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at his Altinho residence. Revised bills will be issued to consumers accordingly.
Smart meter rollout on hold
The move comes after the government put the smart meter rollout on hold amid public concerns over penalties linked to non-sanctioned load usage. The electricity department will now treat the load recorded on a consumer's meter as the new sanctioned load. Records will be automatically updated based on the recorded load, treating it as if the consumer had submitted an online application for load enhancement.
Safety advisory
Fernandes cautioned that consumers are responsible for electrical safety if their load increases, including upgrading wiring, MCBs, and other safety equipment. A detailed circular is expected in the next few days.
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