Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jun 13: Stepping up its attack on the Goa government over soaring electricity bills, Aam Aadmi Party on Friday demanded the immediate withdrawal of penalties linked to sanctioned load violations and warned of a protest march to the residence of Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar if the issue remains unresolved.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik said electricity bills had crossed “all logical limits”, with consumers across the state receiving bills amounting to thousands of rupees. He pointed to protests in Anjuna and Mapusa, as well as widespread complaints on social media, as evidence of growing public anger.

Naik blamed the surge in bills on penalties imposed for exceeding sanctioned load limits. He said many consumers had obtained electricity connections 20 to 30 years ago and were unaware of their sanctioned load. Increased electricity consumption due to the use of appliances such as air-conditioners and refrigerators was a natural outcome of changing lifestyles, he added.

“The department is penalising consumers for not updating paperwork, even though they are paying for the electricity they consume. This is unfair,” Naik said.

He further alleged that the process of enhancing sanctioned load was being used to collect security deposits and processing fees. Naik also criticised what he described as additional financial burdens on consumers through digital meters, Public Lighting Duty and Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA) charges.

Opposing the proposed rollout of smart meters, he claimed the move would place further financial pressure on consumers. According to him, funds allocated for smart meters should instead be utilised to strengthen power infrastructure and promote solar energy projects.

Taking exception to remarks made by Dhavalikar suggesting that complaints over electricity bills were politically motivated, Naik said the concerns raised by consumers were genuine.

“How can families earning Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 a month be expected to pay electricity bills of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000? These are genuine concerns,” he said.

AAP demanded the immediate withdrawal of sanctioned load penalties, a three-month window for consumers to regularise their sanctioned load, and a waiver of additional security deposits during the regularisation process.

Meanwhile, Velim MLA Cruz Silva, accompanied by residents of São José de Areal, met Electricity Department Superintendent Engineer Rajeev Samant to raise concerns over sudden spikes in meter readings, inflated power bills and penalties related to increased electricity load.

During the meeting, Silva demanded the immediate withdrawal of the penalties and urged the department to adjust amounts already paid by consumers in their subsequent bills.

“The amounts paid by consumers should be adjusted in the next bill. Electricity bills should be issued every month to avoid confusion and hardship,” Silva said.

He maintained that residents of the Velim constituency should not be burdened with unjust penalties and irregular billing practices. Assuring consumers of continued support, Silva said he would pursue the matter until corrective measures were taken by the Electricity Department.