KATHMANDU:- A total of 25 new industries using electricity through ‘dedicated’ and ‘trunk line’ systems during the load-shedding period have started paying their long-held dues in power tariff.
Additionally, 10 industries that had previously begun settling their debts but halted payments have now resumed their installments.
Consequently, the Nepal Electricity Authority has collected 238.7 million rupees in overdue payments the 35 industries, as reported by the Secretariat of the Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.
The total outstanding debt for these 35 industries amounts to 5945.6 million rupees. The secretariat has indicated that these dues pertain to premium revenue for electricity consumed via dedicated and trunk lines from January 2016 to April 2018.
Energy Minister Kulman Ghising has said industries have every right to pursue cases with the Electricity Regulatory Commission, courts, and other entities. “We are optimistic that by initiating installment payments, they will adhere to the process.”
The authority had issued a public notice in October, allowing a 21-day window for settling the arrears. When payments were not received within that timeframe, electricity services were suspended in two phases on October 21 and 24. RSS