Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for 24.86 lakh domestic electricity consumers, offering a 100% waiver on penalties and interest on pending bills up to March 31, 2026.The scheme will waive Rs 518 crore from total outstanding dues of around Rs 2,516 crore. Consumers will only have to pay the principal amount. Disconnected power lines will also be restored once dues are cleared, Mann said.The scheme will take effect after a formal notification is issued on Saturday and will remain open for 45 days.Addressing a news conference, Mann said, “This is not merely a financial concession but a commitment to ease the lives of ordinary households.”Applicants will have to pay 25% of their outstanding principal amount upfront, while the remaining 75% can be paid in two instalments over one year, Mann said. Households facing financial difficulties may be granted an additional six-month extension.“We want to ensure that no family is denied this opportunity because of financial constraints. The flexible payment mechanism will allow consumers to clear their dues conveniently,” Mann added.The scheme will cover all domestic electricity consumers, including those whose connections are active and those whose connections have been disconnected. Mann said consumers with disconnected connections would also be eligible for restoration once they clear their outstanding principal dues under the scheme.The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) will dispatch itemised OTS bills to eligible consumers within seven days, detailing the waived surcharges and the net principal amount payable. Revised balances will be updated automatically in consumers’ online accounts once payments are processed.Urging eligible consumers to settle their accounts within the 45-day window, Mann asked them to avail themselves of the opportunity to clear their dues without paying additional penalties and interest.
