Team Herald

PANJIM: In partial relief to the people, the State government on Tuesday announced that 50 per cent on fixed charges of electricity bills would be waived off for the months of April and May.

The development comes after political parties as well as the citizens protested the ‘inflated bills’ for April and May, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office stated, “Government has decided to give a total rebate of Rs 18.3 crore to Electricity Department consumers. 50% of fixed charges are waived for April and May for all low tension domestic, commercial and other categories.”

It further said that for high tension consumers the difference of the billed maximum demand charges and actual recorded maximum demand charges for April and May 2020 have been waived. “The rebate will be adjusted in future bills,” it said.

The move isn’t expected to provide much relief to the common man as the fixed charges form a minuscule amount of the total bill.