Kathmandu: The state-run electricity distribution monopoly, Nepal Electricity Authority, has decided to collect extra charge on power bills if customers choose to pay via e-wallets such as eSewa and Khalti. However, it has been found that the decision breaches a law.

The authority has recently decided that customers pay up to Rs 5 as a service charge for e-payment if the bill amount exceeds Rs 500.

However, the Electricity Regulatory Commission says the authority needs to obtain approval from the authority before collecting such fees as per the commission’s decision in July last year when the commission had introduced the new tariff.

The Electricity Regulatory Act has authorised the commission to make decisions on matters related to electricity bills. Likewise, it says the tariffs cannot be revised for a year once it is done.

“We have already directed the authority that it cannot collect additional fees except the ones specified,” the commission’s spokesperson Ram Prasad Dhital says, “But if there is any decision against this directive, we will look into it.”