
Punjab Government to Waive Interest and Penalties for 2.4 Million Electricity Consumers
What Happened?
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for domestic electricity consumers. Under this plan, interest and penalties will be waived for those who have not paid their bills by March 31, 2026.
Key points
- The OTS scheme will benefit approximately 2.4 million consumers in Punjab.
- Consumers will only need to pay the principal amount of their outstanding bills.
- The total outstanding electricity bill for these consumers is ₹2,516 crores.
- The government will waive ₹518 crores in interest and penalties.
- Notification for the scheme will be issued tomorrow, allowing consumers 45 days to avail the benefits.
Key insights
- The waiver could improve consumer relations and trust in the government.
- This initiative may set a precedent for similar schemes in other states.
- The financial impact on the state's revenue could be significant due to the waived penalties.
Why it matters
This scheme could provide financial relief to millions of consumers struggling with unpaid electricity bills.
Source
India Today

