Pune: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has reiterated that the payment of outstanding electricity bills is mandatory, even if the ownership of a property changes hands.
According to a Supreme Court ruling, MSEDCL has the legal right to recover pending electricity bill dues from the new owner or occupier of a property.
To facilitate the clearing of arrears, MSEDCL has launched the Abhay Yojana (Amnesty Scheme), offering relief to consumers whose electricity supply was permanently disconnected due to unpaid bills.
Chief Engineer Rajendra Pawar has urged consumers to take advantage of the Abhay Yojana to free properties from arrears and restore power supply.
The scheme, which runs from September 1 to November 30, 2024, is aimed at consumers whose electricity connections were permanently disconnected by March 31, 2024, due to outstanding bills.
In the Pune division, 2,53,373 non-agricultural consumers collectively owe ₹472.14 crore in arrears. MSEDCL is offering a substantial waiver under the scheme: if the principal amount of ₹398.99 crore is paid, interest of ₹69 crore and a late fee of ₹5.05 crore, totaling ₹74.05 crore, will be waived.
Furthermore, consumers who make a one-time payment of the principal arrears will receive an additional discount—10% for low-tension (LT) consumers and 5% for high-tension (HT) consumers.
Alternatively, consumers can choose to pay 30% of the principal arrears upfront and the remaining 70% in six interest-free installments. MSEDCL has assured that consumers who participate in the scheme will also be provided with a new electricity connection upon request.
This initiative is expected to encourage consumers to settle their outstanding bills and restore electricity supply to properties where power has been disconnected due to non-payment.
The Abhay Yojana presents a significant opportunity for consumers to clear their dues and benefit from substantial waivers, helping to bring properties back into regular power supply and easing the burden of large arrears.
