Gurgaon: With power utilities in Haryana grappling with mounting unpaid bills, the power department has launched a recovery and enforcement drive, alongside a major push for solar adoption. Power minister Anil Vij has directed officials to expedite recovery of Rs 8,247 crore in pending dues from defaulting consumers and govt departments, warning of strict accountability for delays.Out of the total dues, Rs 3,573 crore is owed to Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Rs 4,674 crore to Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN). An additional Rs 585 crore remains pending from various departments.The recovery drive follows high operational costs and revenue pressures on the state’s power utilities. Officials said UHBVN and DHBVN handle annual revenues of tens of thousands of crores, but large-scale defaults—especially from industrial, agricultural, and government consumers—continue to strain cash flows.Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has kept power tariffs unchanged for the financial year 2026-27, despite both discoms projecting a combined loss of around Rs 4,484 crore. HERC has directed the discoms to improve efficiency and focus on recovering pending dues.The DHBVN jurisdiction, which includes major industrial and urban centres such as Gurugram and Faridabad, accounts for a significant share of high-value defaults.Authorities have identified a mix of institutional, industrial and high-consumption users among the largest defaulters. In one case, Maharaja Agrasen Hisar Airport has been flagged for dues of nearly Rs 94 lakh, making it one of the biggest defaulters in the Hisar circle.“Defaulters who have taken fresh connections without clearing previous dues will face strict action, including disconnection and legal proceedings,” said an official.Alongside dues recovery, the govt has intensified its crackdown on electricity theft, which continues to cause significant revenue losses. Data from enforcement drives show that Bhiwani, Palwal and Gurgaon have emerged as the top theft-prone districts, accounting for nearly 43% of detected cases. Other high-incidence areas include Faridabad, Hisar, Sirsa, Nuh and Rewari.Urban centres like Gurgaon and Faridabad report cases of meter tampering and load manipulation. Rural belts such as Bhiwani and Palwal see widespread direct hooking and unauthorised usage.“All pending theft cases must be presented in court within three months,” Vij said. Officials said thousands of FIRs have been registered in recent years, with hundreds of arrests made in ongoing enforcement drives.In a parallel reform measure, Vij announced that all govt buildings in Haryana will be equipped with solar power systems within one year. To support the initiative, the govt has set up a Rs 200-crore revolving fund and directed officials to maximise coverage under the PM Surya Ghar Scheme, particularly targeting low-income households.
