KATHMANDU: Kulman Ghising, Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has once again disconnected power to 34 industries due to ongoing disputes concerning the usage of dedicated and trunk lines.
Industrialists argue that they cannot settle their outstanding bills, claiming that although the NEA issued these bills, it has not provided evidence of electricity usage.
During a recent board meeting, Energy Minister Deepak Khadka intervened, directing that the electricity supply to these industries should not be cut off immediately.
He highlighted the importance of finding a sustainable solution to the disputes, stressing that cutting electricity during an economic downturn could have severe consequences.
Chandan Kumar Ghosh, Spokesperson for the Nepal Electricity Authority, informed Khabarhub that eight different industries have reached an agreement to pay their outstanding electricity bills in installments.
This agreement comes after the authority offered the option of cutting off service for non-payment.
“Currently, 34 industries have been disconnected due to unpaid bills; however, the lines for the eight industries that agreed to pay in installments have not been disconnected,” said Ghosh.
The industrialists are requesting proof to justify the extra charges included in their bills, which they believe violate regulations.
However, the NEA has not yet supplied the necessary documentation to substantiate the bills.
The industrialists have indicated they will only pay their dues once they receive records from the Time of Day (TOD) metering.
A commission led by former Supreme Court Judge Girish Chandra Lal has recommended waiving fees for the initial six months from July to December 2015, stating that premium fees cannot be charged for that period since the fee determination commission did not set any rates.
The report also recommends conducting separate studies for the periods of January 2016 to April 2018 and from May 2081 to June 2020.
It was reported that load shedding had ceased, and the document asserts that no premium fees should be applied post-load shedding, with charges instead based on TOD meter records for the earlier period.
Additionally, the ministry has requested clarifications from Ghising on 15 specific points.
The government has asked for detailed information regarding his delegated authority over the past four years, along with financial statements from the NEA’s subsidiary, the head of the central store, and the board of directors during the same timeframe.
Thursday was set as the deadline for Ghising to respond, but he has sent a letter to the government seeking an extension of 15 days to provide the required explanations.
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