Gurgaon: Automatic adjustment of interest in upcoming electricity bills is coming soon. What it means is: electricity consumers across south Haryana can expect reduced bills in the first billing cycle of the next financial year. Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has announced payment of 6.5% annual interest on consumption security deposits (CSD) and staff security deposits for 2025–26. To this end, an order has been issued by DHBVN managing director Vikram Singh in line with Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) regulations.
CSD is collected from consumers when a new electricity connection is issued, calculated on the basis of two months’ estimated electricity consumption. The deposit acts as a safeguard for the utility against unpaid bills while ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply. The security amount is periodically reviewed and revised based on changes in consumption patterns.“CSD is collected according to the direction of HERC. On the advance collected by discom, consumers will get annual interest, which will be adjusted in their electricity bill,” a senior DHBVN official said. Power officials told TOI that many consumers are unaware that their security deposit accrues interest. “The mandatory automatic adjustment is expected to improve clarity, reduce disputes, and enhance trust in billing processes,” an official said. Under existing HERC rules, discoms must pay interest on these deposits and credit it to consumers’ bills. DHBVN has now fixed the interest rate. Interest will be credited automatically in the first bill of the next financial year, lowering payable amounts.“Any delay in adjustment will attract a penal interest of 18% per annum, a strong consumer-protection measure aimed at ensuring timely compliance and accountability,” said the discom official. A DHBVN official said that all field officers have been instructed to strictly implement the revised norms. With this order, a sales circular stands withdrawn with immediate effect, paving the way for uniform enforcement. The residents had challenged the collection of advance security amounts as unjustified. “We had already deposited the security amount to the discom at the time of taking the electricity connection. They again took an advance security deposit. Despite all these, we continue to face poor quality of power supply,” said Pradeep Sharma, a resident of Sector 49. A group of residents had earlier met the power minister and raised the issue on CM window and other forums as well. However, officials said that the security deposit was taken from consumers at the time of a new connection, “but over the period of time, the load capacity has increased manifold, which is why HERC has made it mandatory to review the consumption security deposit annually based on the average billing for the previous financial year and any excess or deficient amount is adjusted in the bills”.
