Khattar offers penalty waiver on pending power bills in state

LAUNCHES INCENTIVES ON VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF TAMPERED METERS, PAYMENT IN OLD NOTES TILL OCT 24

CHANDIGARH: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday launched a surcharge waiver scheme on long-pending power bills and another scheme of incentive on voluntary disclosure of tampered meters.

Stating that both the schemes would be effective from Sunday till the year-end, Khattar told newspersons here that the surcharge (penalty for nonpayment of power bills) waiver scheme was for small domestic and non-domestic consumers having sanctioned load up to 2 kW in rural areas.

The scheme would also cover small domestic consumers of up to 2 kW load in urban areas, whose connection had been disconnected for non-payment.

He said the consumers opting for the scheme could choose to deposit the principal amount in lump sum or in a maximum of six equal bi-monthly instalments payable along with the next six bills. In case the consumer opted to pay in lump sum, additional rebate of 5% on assessed principal amount would be allowed.

The surcharge amount outstanding as on September 30, 2016, in the name of the consumer would be frozen while 40% of the amount will be waived on payment of next six bills. Another 30% of the amount would be waived at the end of second year on full payment of bills during the year, and the remaining amount would be waived at the end of the third year on full payment of bills that year, he said. VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE

Consumers who would voluntarily declare tampering of meter or meter being defective would be charged on nominal consumption basis as per their sanctioned load for last one year on current normal tariff only, instead of twice the tariff along with compounding charges, said Khattar.

The consumer would have the option to deposit the bill amount in lump sum or in a maximum of six equal bi-monthly instalments payable along with the next six bills. Lump-sum payment will provide additional rebate of 5%. Also, the meter would be replaced with a new electronic meter within three days, he said. No checking would be carried out during the period of operation of the scheme for consumers having load up to 5 kW.

Khattar said consumers will be able to make the payment in old banknotes till November 24, 2016.