Haryana govt floats new scheme to settle old pending power bills

Chandigarh: Haryana Government has floated a new scheme to settle the old pending electricity bills so that the defaulters can clear their dues and come into the mainstream. The scheme will end on December 31, 2018.

As per the new scheme, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) is giving relaxation to the consumers for settlement of their pending defaulting amount of bills. This scheme is meant for facilitating the consumers up to 20 KW Domestic (DS) category and up to 5 KW of Non-Domestic (NDS) category. Pending bills prior to the year 2005 have been waived off keeping in view the provisions of the waiver scheme of 2005.

A spokesman of the DHBVN said that for settlement of bills from June 2005 to 30 June 2018 calculation in case of Rural Domestic (DS) consumers would be 40 unit per KW per month. In case of Urban Domestic (DS), the calculation would be 50 Unit/KW/month. In rural Non–Domestic (NDS), it would be 75 Unit/KW/month and in rural Non- Domestic (NDS) the calculation would be made on the basis of 150 Unit/KW/month.

He said that in case of BPL consumers, the pending bill of last one year would be payable on the above mentioned rates, that is, the principal amount up to last 12 months only would be payable and rest of the arrears would be waived off.

In case of Domestic consumers, the Government has given relaxation in the rates or tariff of electricity bills Rs 2 per unit so as to enable the poor consumers to make the payment of electricity bills. This scheme would facilitate approximately 90 per cent consumers.

The scheme would also be applicable for settlement of theft cases, provided the consumer deposits 50 per cent of the assessed amount without surcharge and the compounding amount in full and withdraws the court case, if any.

The consumers whose cases are at present in any judicial forum on account of billing disputes will not be covered under this scheme. However, if the consumer withdraws the case, he will be eligible to take benefits of the scheme. Applicant or consumer shall be required to submit KYC documents, to avail the benefits of the scheme.