Residents of Goa are set to face financial penalties if they use more electricity than their officially sanctioned limit. The state's electricity department has announced a strict new measure to curb the unauthorised use of high-power appliances beyond the contracted load.
Understanding the New Penalty Rule
The Goa electricity department has made it clear that consumers will now be liable for penalties if their power demand exceeds their contracted load. This penalty will be calculated on a proportionate basis for the excess demand and will be charged in addition to the regular energy consumption bill. The department has urgently requested the public to review and regularise their loads according to their actual power requirements.
An engineer from the department explained the core issue. "The contracted load is the load approved when a consumer gets a new electricity connection. With economic growth, people often install geysers, washing machines, air conditioners, and other power-hungry gadgets without formally increasing their sanctioned load," the engineer stated. This practice leads to an overload on the local distribution network.
A First for Domestic Consumers
This regulatory action marks a significant shift in policy. "This is the first time the department is imposing penalties on domestic consumers who exceed their contracted load," the engineer confirmed. The financial repercussion is twofold: consumers will be penalised for the exceeded demand itself and also for the energy consumed during that period of excess drawal.
The move follows a statement made by Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar in June 2024. The minister had declared that all homes in Goa would be inspected to verify if they had applied for an increase in their sanctioned load to match their actual usage. The new penalty system appears to be the enforcement mechanism for this directive.
What Consumers Should Do Next
To avoid unexpected charges on their electricity bills, consumers in Goa are advised to take immediate action. They should:
- Check their current electricity bill or connection document to know their official contracted load.
- Calculate the total load of all appliances running in their household.
- If the actual load requirement is higher, they must apply to the electricity department to regularise and increase their sanctioned load officially.
This proactive step will not only help in avoiding penalties but will also ensure a stable and safe power supply. The department's initiative aims to balance growing consumer demand with the technical capacity of the power infrastructure, promoting responsible energy use across the state.
