Bilkul Sateek News
Gurugram (Paridhi Dhasmana), 11 May – Haryana Energy Department Secretary and DHBVN Managing Director A. Srinivas today announced the launch of a surcharge-waiver scheme for overdue electricity bills, offering defaulters both a complete waiver of late penalties and an additional 10 percent discount on principal dues. The scheme takes effect on May 12, 2025, and aims to help consumers clear outstanding liabilities accumulated up to August 31, 2024.
Who Qualifies and Why
“All private domestic and agricultural consumers, as well as government bodies, municipalities, panchayats, public-service utilities, industrial establishments and other categories—whether currently connected or disconnected—are eligible,” Mr. Srinivas said. He explained that this relief measure is intended to bring long-standing defaulters back into the system and improve the financial health of the distribution network, targeting anyone who was in default as of August 31, 2024, and remains so when the scheme begins on May 12, 2025.
Scope of Coverage
The scheme covers private domestic and agricultural customers; state departments, municipal corporations, panchayats and other public-service utilities; industrial and commercial enterprises; and other entities such as educational institutions and NGOs. Every such consumer with arrears as of the cutoff date may participate under the same terms, whether their connection is active or has been disconnected.
Domestic and Agricultural Benefits
Under the new provisions, eligible domestic and agricultural consumers who settle their entire principal arrears in a single lump sum will receive a 10 percent discount on the amount owed and have all accumulated surcharge charges fully waived. For those unable to pay at once, the scheme offers flexible installment plans: domestic users may spread payment over eight monthly or four bimonthly installments, while agricultural customers may choose up to three billing cycles (each spanning four months). In all cases, the waived surcharges are forgiven in equal portions alongside each regular bill, provided no installment is missed.
Government and Public-Service Utilities
State and local bodies, including municipalities, panchayats and other public-service utilities, may clear their principal dues in a single payment to qualify for a full waiver of surcharges. To expedite recovery, no installment option is offered for this category, requiring one-time settlement to avail the relief.
Industrial and Other Commercial Units
Industrial and other commercial consumers must pay 100 percent of their principal dues along with 50 percent of their accrued surcharge in a one-time payment. The remaining half of the surcharge will be waived only if they maintain timely payment over the next six billing cycles. Mr. Srinivas cautioned that any default during these six bills will void the waiver and render the entire surcharge immediately due.
Consequences of Missed Installments
The scheme’s installment plans for domestic, agricultural and commercial consumers carry a strict compliance requirement: any missed payment will result in the immediate recovery of the full surcharge amount and the consumer’s removal from the program.
Reconnection and Dispute Resolution
Consumers whose connections were cut within the past six months (or within two years for agricultural accounts) may apply for reconnection upon payment of either the lump sum or the first installment of principal dues, plus the standard reconnection fee. Applicants whose disconnections exceed these time frames must register as new consumers. Those currently contesting their bills in judicial forums may also participate by withdrawing their cases; “once a consumer retracts the dispute, they become eligible for relief,” Mr. Srinivas explained.
Administration and Compliance
Chief Commercial Engineer Anil Sharma has issued detailed instructions mandating that all Executive Engineers and Sub-Divisional Officers proactively engage with consumers, educate them on the scheme’s benefits, and maintain a dedicated register of participants. Field officers will conduct outreach in their jurisdictions to ensure that every eligible defaulter is informed and assisted in settling their dues.
Deadline and Appeals
The surcharge-waiver scheme will remain open for six months, closing on November 11, 2025. Consumers dissatisfied with any sub-division office decision may appeal to the Executive Engineer, who is required to issue a ruling within three working days. With the program set to begin tomorrow, defaulters are urged to act swiftly to take advantage of both the surcharge waiver and the extra 10 percent discount before the November deadline.
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