THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
APRIL 13, 2026
In a significant relief measure for domestic consumers grappling with soaring summer temperatures, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Monday directed that no household electricity connections be disconnected due to non-payment of bills until the onset of the monsoon.
The Deputy Chief
Minister, who also oversees the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and
Energy departments, issued clear instructions to all power distribution
companies (DISCOMs) to refrain from carrying out any unscheduled power cuts
linked to unpaid dues by domestic consumers.
Emphasizing consumer
convenience during the peak heat period, Singh Deo stated that power
interruptions would be permitted strictly for essential repair and maintenance
work. He mandated that such scheduled outages must be communicated well in
advance through SMS alerts and public address systems to ensure residents are
not caught off guard.
Calling for strict
compliance, he urged all concerned departments, agencies, and DISCOMs to
sensitize their field-level staff about the directive. He also stressed the
need for a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure the policy is effectively
implemented and that households receive uninterrupted relief during the summer
months.
The Additional Chief
Secretary of the Energy Department has been entrusted with overseeing the
execution of these measures and submitting a detailed action taken report for
periodic review.
