Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced a major relief for electricity consumers in Chhattisgarh by extending the duration of the “Electricity Bill Payment Resolution Scheme” by three months. During the extended period, consumers will be able to clear their pending electricity bills without paying any late payment surcharge.
The decision is expected to benefit thousands of consumers who have been unable to clear long-pending dues due to financial constraints.
No Late Payment Surcharge During Extended Period
Under the extended scheme, consumers who pay their pending electricity bills will not be charged any additional surcharge. The state government aims to provide relief to maximum consumers and encourage timely settlement of electricity dues without financial burden.
The government has also urged consumers to take advantage of the extended period and clear their outstanding bills within the scheme timeframe.
Power Company Clarifies New Billing System
The Chhattisgarh State Power Company has issued a clarification regarding the updated billing and surcharge system implemented by the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC). It stated that reports circulating on social media about “double penalty” or “daily interest” are misleading and incorrect.
According to the company, the revised system has actually been designed to reduce the financial burden on consumers and make the surcharge structure more transparent.
Old System: Fixed Monthly Penalty Even for Short Delays
Under the previous system, consumers who delayed payment even by one or two days were charged a flat 1.5% surcharge for the entire month. Officials said this structure was unfair to consumers who made minor delays in payment.
This often resulted in higher financial penalties even for short-term delays.
New Rule: Daily-Based Transparent Calculation
Under the revised system, late payment surcharge is now calculated on a daily basis at a rate of 0.04% per day.
Key benefits of the new system:
- Consumers pay only for the number of days of delay
- No fixed monthly penalty for short delays
- Fully transparent calculation method
- Reduced overall surcharge burden
For example, a delay of 30 days will now attract only 1.2% surcharge (0.04% × 30), compared to the earlier 1.5% flat monthly charge.
Even a single day’s delay will now result in a minimal surcharge of 0.04%, making the system more consumer-friendly.
Government Appeals for Awareness and Accurate Information
The power company has urged media outlets and the public to avoid misinformation and understand the revised rules correctly. Officials emphasized that the new system is not a penalty increase but a rationalization of charges aimed at consumer benefit.
Consumers are encouraged to rely only on verified information to avoid confusion regarding electricity billing rules.
The extension of the electricity bill relief scheme and the introduction of a more transparent surcharge system mark a significant consumer-friendly move by the Chhattisgarh government. With reduced penalties and flexible payment relief, the initiative aims to ease financial pressure on electricity users while improving compliance and revenue recovery.
