Up to 75% waiver on power dues under revised scheme

Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) has issued revised guidelines for implementing the Mukhyamantri Bijli Bill Bhugtan Samadhan Yojana 2026, extending relief on outstanding electricity dues for Below Poverty Line (BPL), non-government domestic, and agricultural consumers. The scheme will remain in force until June 30, and the new directions replace instructions issued in March.Under the revised framework, consumers are classified as active or inactive to determine eligibility for waivers on principal and surcharge components.For inactive connections that became inactive on or before March 31, 2023, CSPDCL has announced a 100% waiver of surcharge. Principal waivers vary by category: BPL consumers will receive a 75% waiver on principal, while domestic and agricultural consumers—both permanent and temporary—will receive a 50% waiver on principal.For active BPL consumers, eligibility is limited to those with a connected load of up to 1 kW as of March 31, 2023. If dues have been pending for more than five years, the consumer will receive a 75% waiver on principal and a 100% waiver on surcharge. If dues have been pending for less than five years, the principal waiver will be 50% with a 100% surcharge waiver. The remaining amount can be paid in monthly instalments along with regular bills, with instalment counts determined automatically: 60 instalments for balances above ₹1 lakh, 50 instalments for ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh, and 40 instalments for balances below ₹50,000.Active non-government domestic and agricultural consumers with dues pending as of March 31, 2023 must register to avail benefits. After a 100% surcharge waiver, they can choose among three payment options: lump-sum payment with a 10% principal waiver, three instalments with a 5% principal waiver, or six instalments with no principal waiver. A minimum payment of 5% of total dues is required at registration, and no surcharge will be levied on subsequent instalment payments.CSPDCL said inactive consumers do not need to register, as relief will be applied automatically through the SAP system. Active consumers must register online through the Mor Bijli mobile application using their registered mobile numbers. Consumers without internet access can register at distribution centres or sub-division offices, where officials will complete registration using the Prakash app.The revised guidelines exclude consumers facing cases under Sections 126, 135, and 138 of the Electricity Act, 2003. For registered consumers who miss instalments for consecutive months, a penalty between ₹50 and ₹200 will be charged to keep the plan active. Defaults exceeding three consecutive months may result in withdrawal of benefits and restoration of the full outstanding amount to the bill.CSPDCL has also introduced incentives for meter readers to boost recoveries. Meter readers will receive 5% of the recovered amount, capped at ₹1,000 per connection for lump-sum payments and ₹500 for instalment-based clearances. The utility has barred meter readers from collecting cash directly from consumers.