Debarred taxpayers, public servants from subsidy; instruct govt departments to settle electricity bills promptly-PSEBEA to CM
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ September 9,2024
PSEB Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA), while welcoming the decision to withdraw a subsidy of Rs.3 per unit up to 7 KW load, has suggested that rich domestic consumers should be debarred from subsidy as they are financially well off.
Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, General Secretary in a letter to the chief minister has suggested that domestic consumers who are income tax payers or in public service, either in the state or central sector should not be eligible for subsidy on electricity.
Further subsidy shall be paid only to one connection in one premise. It has further suggested that consumers indulging in electricity theft should be debarred from taking any subsidies for 5 years.
The Punjab Government currently provides up to 80% subsidy for agricultural solar projects. To further promote renewable energy, similar subsidies should be extended to domestic consumers willing to surrender their free 300 units of electricity in favour of installing solar net metering systems. The subsidy to be given should be in addition to union government subsidies.
PSEBEA has pointed out that delayed payments of subsidy bills by the Punjab Government and non-payment of pending electricity dues of Rs. 3,600 crore by various departments, have affected the cash flows of PSPCL which is very important for meeting the increased demand. The government departments will be instructed to settle their electricity bills promptly.
Debarred taxpayers, public servants from subsidy; instruct govt departments to settle electricity bills promptly-PSEBEA to CM. They further urged Punjab government should release the pending subsidy bills of Rs. 1,000 crore for financial year 2023-24 and 2024-25 along with the upcoming installment of Rs. 1,800 crore for the past dues of Rs. 5,500 crore. Additionally, it is anticipated that government departments will be instructed to settle their electricity bills promptly, further alleviating financial pressures on the power sector.
