PPBM state secretary Mohinder Aggarwal welcomes Punjab CM's announcement regarding reduction in fixed electricity charges

Ludhiana: Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal state secretary Mohinder Aggarwal has welcomed an announcement made by the Punjab Government that due date of electricity bills on or after March 20, 2020 of all the industrial consumers i.e. SP, MS and LS has been extended up to April 20, 2020 without levy of late payment surcharge and 1 per cent rebate will be given to the consumers (exclusively of any previous arrears) who will pay electricity bills online through digital modes by original due date. He has thanked the Punjab chief minister for the same.
In a statement here today, he also welcomed the announcement that fixed charge for Medium Supply (MS) and Large Supply (LS) industrial consumers will be exempted for next 2 months from 23.3.2020. He, however, said that this particular announcement did not mention about SP Category. He demanded that SP Industrial consumers should also be exempted from fixed charge as Medium Supply (MS) and Large Supply (LS) industrial consumers have been exempted for next 2 months from 23.3.2020. He pointed out that SP Industrial Consumers are worst sufferers because they run their industrial units with less resources compared to others. Moreover, all industrial consumers be treated at par, he said.
He also appreciated that due date of electricity bills of all the Domestic & Commercial consumers, having current monthly/bimonthly bills up to Rs. 10000 payable on or after 20th March, 2020, has been extended up to 20th April, 2020, without levy of late payment surcharge. Further, 1% rebate will be given to the consumers (exclusive of any previous arrears) who will pay electricity bills online through digital modes by original due date. 
Aggarwal added as per the media reports the PSPCL will have to bear additional burden of Rs.350 crore due to the various reliefs announced for the consumers. At the same time, he hoped that the PSPCL will not either consider or increase power tariff till end of this financial year in view of the financial crisis being faced by people belonging to all categories due to the ongoing corona virus epidemic. 
Regarding another problem being faced by people, he said there are many people, including traders, who are facing short of cash in their bank accounts. In absence of sufficient cash in the banks accounts these people are unable to make online transactions. The administration must find out an easy and prompt solution to the same as people are unable to move out due to the ongoing lockdown/curfew, he said. He demanded that the needy persons be allowed to move out for ATM/Bank transactions and their bank account documents be treated as “curfew passes”.   He hoped the local administration would consider this demand.