Gandhinagar: As of January 31, 2026, a total of 109 municipalities across Gujarat have outstanding electricity bills exceeding ₹50 lakh each. This information was provided by the Energy Minister in response to a question regarding the recovery of power dues from municipal bodies.

The state government also stated that during recovery efforts over the past two years, ₹325.57 crore was collected in the 2024–25 fiscal year, and the figure rose to ₹372.27 crore in 2025–26.

As per the reply, the pending arrears are primarily linked to electricity used for essential public services, particularly water works and streetlights.

To address these mounting debts, power distribution companies (DISCOMs) have adopted a rigorous follow-up procedure:

• Notice Period: Sub-divisional offices issue an initial 15-day written notice, followed by a final 24-hour warning if the deadline passes.

• Direct Engagement: Senior officials from divisional and circle offices hold personal meetings with municipal Chief Officers and Presidents to facilitate payment.

• Administrative Pressure: Corporate offices of the power companies maintain constant contact with Regional Commissioners and local leadership to ensure that dues are cleared.

In cases where recovery efforts remain unsuccessful, DISCOMs have taken the drastic step of disconnecting power supply to defaulting municipalities. However, the government clarified that these connections are generally restored once the payment process begins, mainly to avoid severe inconvenience to the public who depend on these essential services.

The list of municipalities with significant pending bills includes major towns such as Amod, Jambusar, Rajpipla, Bharuch, Karjan, Padra, Savli, Borsad, Anklav, Nadiad, Anand, Dajod, Kheda, Mehmedabad, Godhra, Gondal, Una, Dhari, Mangrol, Sanand, Patan, Unjha, Morbi, Surendranagar-Wadhwan, and Palanpur, among others across various districts. DeshGujarat