TNNPanaji: After a public backlash, Goa govt has decided to waive penalties imposed on electricity consumers for using power beyond their sanctioned load. Penalties already collected will be returned and adjusted as credit in future bills for consumers who have paid, chief electrical engineer Stephen Fernandes said on Wednesday.Fernandes said that the decision was taken after a meeting with chief minister Pramod Sawant at his Altinho residence. Revised bills will be issued to consumers, he said.The move comes after govt put the smart meter rollout on hold amid public concerns over penalties linked to non-sanctioned load usage.Going forward, the electricity department will treat the load recorded on a consumer’s meter as the new sanctioned load. The department will automatically update its records based on the recorded load and treat it as if the consumer had already submitted an online application for load enhancement.Fernandes cautioned that consumers will be responsible for electrical safety if their load increases, including upgrading wiring, MCBs, and other safety equipment. A detailed circular is expected in the next few days.
