KATHMANDU: Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has stated that 28 industries that are using dedicated and trunk lines have not paid any installments of their electricity bills so far.
Ghising made this remark during a press conference held at the NEA central office in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
“Of the 28 industries, none have paid any installments,” Ghising said. “If these 28 industries fail to pay their outstanding dues within 15 days as per the NEA’s billing, we will be compelled to disconnect their power supply.”
Ghising added that despite the expiration of a three-month deadline initially given by the NEA, the government has now instructed the Authority to wait another 15 days to allow for the collection of the outstanding payments.
“At this stage, the responsibility of collecting the arrears has shifted to the Government of Nepal and the Ministry of Energy,” Ghising said.
“We will follow the government’s directive and give them the 15-day period. If the arrears remain unpaid, we expect that the government and Ministry of Energy will take action to recover the amount. If the 28 industries fail to pay within this time, the NEA will act in accordance with its regulations.”
Ghising also mentioned that, based on the instructions of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the written guidelines from the Regulatory Commission, the industries had already been given a three-month grace period.
“Now, the government has given us another 15 days to resolve the matter,” he said.
“If the issue remains unresolved, it will no longer be just a matter for the government, the Ministry of Energy, and the NEA. I believe the public will also begin to raise concerns, as this is a matter of national interest.”
Addressing concerns about the NEA’s approach to arrears collection, Ghising emphasized that the Authority is not actively pursuing disconnection as a means to recover unpaid bills.
“We have decided not to cut the power lines at this stage,” he said.
“The matter is now at a critical point, and we are following the instructions of the Government of Nepal. We will wait for 15 more days and then take further action as necessary.”
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