Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for domestic electricity consumers who have defaulted on their power bills and the scheme will allow eligible consumers to clear their pending dues by paying only the principal amount, with penalties and interest waived.
Announcing the scheme at a press conference, Mann said consumers would get 45 days from the date of official notification to avail themselves of the benefits and this means the 45-day period will begin once the scheme is formally notified.
According to the Chief Minister, more than 24 lakh domestic consumers have outstanding electricity dues amounting to Rs 2,516 crore.
The payment structure has been divided into three parts. Consumers will have to deposit 25 per cent of their pending principal amount upfront, and the remaining 75 per cent can be paid in two instalments, with six months between each instalment. This will give consumers up to one year to clear their dues.
The scheme covers outstanding electricity bills up to March 31, 2026 and according to reports of the press conference, the government will waive approximately Rs 518 crore in penalties and interest, benefiting around 24.86 lakh domestic consumers across Punjab.
Another important provision is for consumers whose electricity connections have been disconnected because of unpaid bills. They will be able to get their connections restored after fulfilling the scheme's payment conditions.
The announcement provides an opportunity for consumers with long-pending electricity bills to settle their dues without having to pay the additional charges accumulated through penalties and interest.
The scheme will be available for 45 days after its official notification.
