Chhattisgarh News: Electricity usage in government offices will now operate much like mobile phone recharges. The state government has decided to implement a pre-paid electricity billing system across all government offices starting August 1st. Under this new system, departments will be required to recharge their electricity credit in advance. If the allocated balance is exhausted and not topped up on time, the power supply will be automatically disconnected. Ashutosh Kumar Jaiswal, Deputy Secretary of the Energy Department, has issued detailed guidelines to all District Collectors regarding this matter. All departments have been instructed to complete the necessary preparations by July 15th.
Implementation in Two Phases
Government departments hold a total of over 1.65 lakh electricity connections, with smart meters already installed on approximately 1.44 lakh of them. The pre-paid system will be implemented in the first phase across all state, district, and block-level offices. The second phase will cover offices below the block level and government connections in rural areas.
Recovery of Arrears in Four Installments
Outstanding electricity bills for government departments are estimated to reach ₹3,432.64 crore by June. Arrears calculated as of June 30th must be paid in four equal quarterly installments.
System Implemented Due to Unmet Central Conditions
This system is being implemented under the Government of India’s RDSS scheme, which mandates smart meters and pre-paid billing for government electricity connections. Due to the failure to implement this system on time, the Central Government has withheld one-third of the grants due to the state. During a review meeting on May 21st, the Union Ministry of Power made it clear that pre-paid billing must be implemented without fail. Teams have been constituted at the state and district levels to resolve technical issues arising from the new system’s operation, while regular online meetings are being held to address any concerns raised by officials.
Power Cut Upon Balance Exhaustion
Under the new system, if a department’s electricity balance remains in the negative by the end of the month, a surcharge will be levied. If the account is not recharged within 15 days of the quarter ending, the electricity supply will be automatically disconnected. However, in an emergency, the power supply can be temporarily restored for seven days without a recharge via the ‘Mor Bijli’ app’s chatbot.
