Electricity bills not paid? Gujarat govt announces relief


Ahmedabad, 28 March, 2012

Gujarat government today announced a scheme to provide relief to 3,56,000 power consumers whose electricity bill payments are pending.

According to an announcement made by state energy minister Shri Saurabh Patel, total amount of pending bill, late charge and interest amount is waived for all below poverty line (BPL) home consumers. Those whose pending bill amount is upto Rs 5,000 will also get similar benefit in all cases of home connections.

A scheme for 80% waiver on basic pending amount and no interest charge and late charge has been announced for those whose pending amount of bill is between Rs 50001 and 10000.

Consumers whose unpaid electricity bills are between Rs 10001 and 1 lakh will get 65% relief in pending amount, while late charge and interest charge also are to be waived. Similarly for 1 lakh to 50 lakh the relief will be 60%, and for 50 lakh to 1 crore it will be 50% for home consumers.

In commercial connections, late charge and interest will be waived in all cases while on basic amount there will be 100% relief for those whose pending bill is below Rs 5,000, 80% relief for 5000-10000, 65$ relief for 10000 to 100000, 60% relief for 1 lakh to 50 lakh and 50% relief for 50 lakh to 1 crore pending bills.

In Agricultural connections, all consumers will get 100% relief in late charges and interest cost. Those with pending bills of Rs 5000-10000 will get relief of 85% amount of basic amount. Similarly 10000+ pending amount of bill will suitable to get 70% relief on basic amount. However the highest amount they need to pay is just Rs 5000.

This scheme will not be considered effective in the cases where court verdict has arrived.