Industries pay first installment of electricity dues

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 13: Industries whose electricity supply had been disconnected for failing to pay premium tariffs under the dedicated and trunk electricity lines have begun clearing their outstanding dues.

The payments are linked to a long-standing dispute over premium charges for using dedicated and trunk power lines during years of load-shedding. 

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been collecting these dues, often through installment plans, and has disconnected power to many non-paying industries to encourage settlement.

The Authority had disconnected the lines of 25 industries for non-payment, in line with its tariff collection regulations on October 24, this year. Following the disconnection, over a dozen of companies have started settling their outstanding payments in installments within a few days.

Among them, Sonapur Minerals and Oil Limited, operating in Ghorahi, Dang, paid the first installment of its outstanding premium for electricity consumed from dedicated and trunk lines during the load-shedding period in the past, said the NEA. 

Following the payment, its power supplies, which had been disconnected on October 24, was reconnected on Tuesday evening, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.

According to NEA, Sonapur Minerals had an outstanding amount of Rs. 242.99 million. 

The company has agreed to pay the dues in 28 installments, and has already cleared the first installment of Rs. 8.63 million for the electricity consumed between February 2016 to May 2018 through dedicated and trunk lines.

Similarly, Shivam Cement, based in Hetauda, Makawanpur, has also started paying its long-pending premium tariff for electricity consumed under the dedicated and trunk lines during the same period. 

After paying the first installment on Monday, the power supply, which had been disconnected on October 24, was reconnected the same day, said the NEA.

Shivam Cement has total arrears of Rs. 668.9 million, which will also be settled in 28 installments. The company has paid the first installment of Rs. 23.8 million.

Likewise, Triveni Synthetic Yarn Industries Pvt. Ltd, Reliance Spinning Mills, Panchakanya Plastic Industries, Panchakanya Steel Industries, Siddhartha Pet Plant, Shyam Plastic, Hulas Steel, Ashok Steel, Hama Iron and Steel, Samrat Cement, Rolpa Cement, and Nawa Nepal Plastic Industries paid their first installment a few days ago. 

Reliance’s total arrears of Rs. 753.7 million have been split into 28 installments, with the first payment of Rs. 27.7 million made. Similarly, Triveni Synthetic has total arrears of Rs. 43.983 million, which have been divided into 28 installments. It paid the first installment of Rs. 1.57 million a few days ago, said the NEA.