Chandigarh, Nov 13: More than 24 lakh domestic electricity consumers in Punjab with pending arrears are set to receive substantial financial relief following the announcement of a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday. Sharing the framework of the policy at a press conference, Mann maintained that the scheme will remain open for a 45-day period starting from the date of its formal notification.
The policy eliminates late payment penalties and interest components on defaulted bills, allowing households to clear their dues by paying strictly the principal amount. The Chief Minister noted that the cumulative pending dues of these over 24 lakh consumers total Rs 2,516 crore.
“Consumers will have a 45-day window from the notification date to avail themselves of the scheme, where they need to pay only the principal amount,” Mann affirmed during the interaction.
As part of the flexible payment mechanism, applicants will need to make an initial upfront payment of 25 per cent of their principal dues. The rest of the settlement amount will be divided into two six-monthly instalments, giving families a full year to complete the remaining payment without additional financial strain.
