35 industries pay Rs. 238.7 m in arrears

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 14: About 25 new industries that had consumed electricity from dedicated and trunk lines during load shedding in the past have paid the first installment of premium tariff arrears. 

Similarly, ten industries that had started paying their arrears earlier and but stopped to do so have continued paying their installments. 

Thus, the Nepal Electricity Authority has recovered Rs. 238.7 million from 35 industries. About 25 new industries that had consumed electricity from dedicated and trunk lines during load shedding in the past have paid the first installment of premium tariff arrears. (NEA), the total arrears of 35 industries were Rs. 5.94 billion. 

Now, around Rs. 5.7 billion remains to be recovered from these industries. 

These are the premium tariff arrears for consuming electricity from dedicated and trunk lines from February 2016 to May 2018.

Minister for Energy Kul Man Ghising thanked the industrialists for starting to pay the arrears, appreciating their responsibility towards the state. 

Minister Ghising expressed confidence that the industrialists would continue to pay the arrears in installments.

He said, "The industries have the right to approach the Electricity Regulatory Commission, the court and other bodies. We are confident that they will comply with the installments once they start paying. We are always ready to address the legitimate demands of the industrialists."

The NEA had issued a public notice on September 28, allowing industries to settle their outstanding amounts in 28 installments. 

Even during that period, the electricity supply of 25 industries was cut in two phases, on October 21 and 24, when the arrears were not paid.

Following the payment, electricity supply to the industries, which had been disconnected, was restored.

The payment of dues was initiated following the high-level discussions involving Prime Minister Sushila Karki, government officials, and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to resolve disputes regarding dedicated and trunk line tariffs.