PANJIM: In the view of extended nationwide lockdown, the Electricity department has granted relaxation in payment of power bills, due date of which falls between March 24 and June 30, by two weeks, without late payment surcharge (LPSC).
The relaxation was granted following relief provided by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for the State of Goa to power consumers for the period from March 24 to June 30. The Commission has reduced LPSC charges to one percent per month instead of two percent per month.
“The electricity department shall extend the due date for payment of electricity bills including those already raised where the due dates fall between March 24 and June 30, by further two weeks without LPSC. Provided further that if such extended due date falls beyond June 30, it will not be extended,” the JERC said.
A moratorium on payment of fixed charges is provided to all industrial and commercial consumers for the bills raised during the said period, which can be availed as per consumer desire. “These deferred charges shall be recovered in an equated manner over next three bills to be raised after June 30,” JERC said.
Further, the department is allowed to have the flexibility to raise bills to their consumers by direct meter reading wherever possible or by provisional billing or by encouraging the consumers to take their own meter readings.
The department is also directed to encourage all sorts of digital payments without demanding the Bank transaction charges from the consumer.
