In a major relief to electricity consumers across Haryana, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has announced a substantial financial credit of ₹150 crore to its user base in the form of interest on security deposits. This benefit will be reflected in the upcoming electricity bills of over 4.1 million domestic and commercial consumers in districts served by the power utility. The move, welcomed widely by consumers and civic groups, is being seen as a step toward improving transparency and accountability in the state’s power distribution mechanism.
The interest payout, mandated by power regulatory norms but often delayed in execution, is now being processed after a gap of several financial cycles. Security deposits are routinely collected from electricity consumers as a safeguard against payment defaults. However, as per provisions laid down by regulatory authorities, these deposits are supposed to accrue interest annually, similar to a fixed deposit. For years, many consumers have either been unaware of this entitlement or have not seen the promised amounts reflected in their billing records. DHBVN’s latest move not only clears this backlog but also brings the matter into public focus.
The process of calculating and disbursing the interest has reportedly been streamlined through improved digital billing infrastructure and database integration. Consumers need not take any action to claim the amount—it will automatically be credited to their power bills and adjusted against upcoming dues. This seamless credit model is being appreciated particularly by domestic users and small shop owners in southern Haryana districts such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rewari, and Narnaul.
DHBVN officials stated that the interest rates have been applied in accordance with guidelines issued by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), ensuring fairness and consistency. In total, over 410 lakh consumers will benefit from the ₹150 crore interest amount, marking one of the largest cumulative credits in the utility’s operational history. For some consumers, the adjustment could even result in a near-zero electricity bill for the next cycle, depending on their usage.
Beyond the financial benefit, this announcement is being viewed as part of a broader shift in how state-run utilities handle consumer rights and data transparency. With power consumption rising steadily and digital payments becoming the norm, consumers are more aware of their entitlements and expect service standards that match private providers. In response, DHBVN has upgraded its billing systems, grievance redressal apps, and call centre protocols. The utility now enables SMS alerts for dues, payment confirmations, and meter reading schedules, strengthening communication channels.
This gesture may also have a positive impact on bill payment behavior. In the past, irregular billing, delays in adjustments, and lack of clarity often led to consumer dissatisfaction and litigation. The current interest disbursal may help rebuild trust in the public utility, encouraging timely payments and compliance with meter-based usage. It could also encourage users with pending bills to settle their accounts promptly in anticipation of such credits.
Energy economists have pointed out that such financial credits, while beneficial, must also be sustained with institutional reforms in power infrastructure. Losses due to line theft, non-metered usage, and commercial leakage still plague distribution companies across India. DHBVN’s move is commendable, but experts caution that it must be part of a larger financial reform strategy that balances consumer incentives with operational efficiency.
Citizens’ welfare groups have urged the utility to ensure timely yearly credit of interest in the future and to communicate proactively about such entitlements. They also advocate the inclusion of an interest statement in the consumer’s digital bill or mobile app dashboard, promoting transparency. The Haryana government, meanwhile, has taken note of this development and is expected to use the opportunity to showcase consumer-friendly governance in the run-up to state reviews on infrastructure service delivery.
This is an auto web-generated news web story. Hashtags: #DHBVNRefund #ElectricityConsumers #HaryanaNews #PowerBillUpdate
