10% rebate & surcharge waiver: Haryana starts new plan to clear power dues

Gurgaon: Haryana discoms have introduced a three-month electricity bill waiver scheme. The surcharge waiver scheme for domestic, agricultural and govt consumers — providing relief on outstanding electricity bills — starts Monday and will remain in force till August. All existing consumers, including those whose connections were disconnected due to pending dues, can avail themselves of the benefit. According to discoms officials, the scheme will aid in recovering pending dues and improve the financial health of discoms.

All categories of defaulting consumers can avail of this scheme. Secretary of the Haryana energy department and managing director (MD) of DHBVN A Srinivas said, "The surcharge waiver scheme 2025 will be valid for consumers who were defaulters of the electricity corporation as of Aug 31, 2024 and remain defaulters to date."

Domestic (urban and rural) and agricultural consumers will receive a 10% rebate on the principal amount and a full waiver on the surcharge in case of lump-sum payment. An electricity department official said, "Consumers whose cases are currently in any judicial forum due to billing disputes can withdraw the case and avail of this waiver scheme."

Srinivas said all private consumer categories, agricultural categories, govt, municipal, village panchayat, state govt and other public service utilities, as well as industrial and other categories of connected and disconnected consumers in both rural and urban areas, will benefit. The MD said if a lump sum payment is made, all eligible domestic/agricultural consumers will receive a 10% discount on the principal amount and the entire surcharge will be waived. The total delayed payment surcharge for all categories of consumers will be frozen until the date of notification of the scheme.

Domestic consumers who decide to participate in the scheme will have the option to pay the outstanding principal amount in a lump sum or in eight monthly or four bi-monthly instalments by the notification date. The outstanding surcharge amount will be waived in instalments with regular payment of eight current monthly or four bi-monthly bills.

Agricultural consumers will have the option to pay the outstanding principal amount in a lump sum or over three billing cycles. The outstanding surcharge amount will be waived in instalments with regular payment of three current bills. Govt, municipal, village panchayat,and other public service utility consumers whoparticipate in the scheme will haveoption to make a lump sum payment of the outstanding principal and the surcharge will be waived. Industrial consumers will have 50% of the surcharge waived upon making a lump sum payment of the principal amount along with 50% of the surcharge.