No Interest on DGVCL Supplementary Bills: Gujarat Minister to SGCCI

Surat, Gujarat — In a significant relief to South Gujarat’s industrial community, Gujarat Finance and Energy Minister Kanubhai Desai assured that no interest will be levied on the controversial supplementary electricity bills issued by Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) to consumers with LTMD (Low Tension Maximum Demand) connections.

The assurance came during a high-level meeting held on July 1, 2025, in Gandhinagar, where a delegation from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), led by Vice President Ashok Jirawala, presented the concerns of industrial electricity consumers directly to the minister.

The delegation, which also included Suresh Patel, Advisor of the DGVCL Committee, and Mayur Golwala, Committee Chairman, made a detailed presentation on the financial strain caused by the sudden issuance of separate supplementary bills. These bills, which were not previously disclosed in the regular billing cycle, have raised alarm among business owners and industries relying on consistent electricity supply.

“Our members were shocked to receive additional bills without prior notice. The Chamber took this up as a priority issue affecting South Gujarat’s industrial ecosystem,” said SGCCI President Nikhil Madrasi.

Minister Kanubhai Desai responded promptly and empathetically, assuring the Chamber that no immediate payment is required, and more importantly, no interest will be charged on these supplementary bills.

“The state government will ensure no interest is charged and no electricity will be disconnected until DGVCL finalizes the payment structure,” said Finance and Energy Minister Kanubhai Desai.

“These bills are not to be paid at present. The government will discuss the issue with DGVCL and devise an installment-based structure for payment. No consumer will face electricity disconnection until further notice,” Desai told the delegation.

This development has brought much-needed clarity and temporary relief to hundreds of LTMD electricity consumers in Vapi, Surat, and other industrial pockets of South Gujarat. Many industries had feared operational disruption due to non-payment of the bills, which were seen as arbitrary and lacking transparency.

The SGCCI has welcomed the minister’s assurance and emphasized the need for transparent billing mechanisms in the future to avoid similar disruptions.

“We are thankful for the minister’s immediate intervention. Our request is not just for postponement but for systematic communication and fair billing practices going forward,” said Mayur Golwala, weaving industry leader.