Nepal Electricity Authority, Dolakha Distribution Centre has cut the electricity supply lines of 715 customers who have not paid the tariff for a year.

By the end of last fiscal year 2023/24, 108 customers were blacklisted in addition to disconnecting electricity supply of customers who do not pay their electricity tariff on time.

Madhav Prasai, chief of Accounts at Dolakha Distribution Centre, NEA said that after cutting the electricity supply of the customers, around Rs. 6.27 million have been recovered in one year from them.

There are 41,990 customers under Dolakha Distribution Centre.

He said that as part of the campaign to cut the lines of the customers who have not paid the fees for 60 days, the Centre has cut the electricity lines and collected the tariff.

He said that the number of non-paying customers is decreasing after the Centre started disconnecting power supply.

According to Centre, the electricity supply lines of the customers who have a large amount of arrears will be cut off and gradually the lines of all those who do not pay the arrears will be cut off.

Netra Mani Neupane, chief of Dolakha Distribution Centre, said that customers who do not pay the tariff even after six months after disconnection of the electricity line will be blacklisted.

He said, "As the arrears have not been collected for a long time, the Authority is being strict to collect arrears lately."

Requesting all the consumers not to hesitate to pay the electricity tariff, he said that the line can be cut at any time if the tariff is not paid on time.

Neupane said that preparations have been made to blacklist those who use electricity illegally such as power theft.

He said, “We are monitoring those who use electricity illegally. Now we will not only cut the line again, we have prepared to confiscate the meter and put them on the black list."

Neupane said that meter connection, meter reading and tariff collection, electricity theft control, distribution line extension, distribution line improvement, infrastructure development and line route change and safety programme are being carried forward with priority.

There is a provision of 2 per cent discount while paying tariff within seven days after meter reading.

The bill amount should be paid by the 15th day of reading. From the 16th day to the 30th day after meter reading, there is an additional charge of 5 per cent and from the 31st day to 40 days, an additional fee is charged at a rate of 10 per cent.

The customers who do not pay the electricity tariff even on the 40th day of meter reading will be charged an additional fee of 25 per cent from the 41st day. Thus, if the arrears are not paid even on the 60th day with the additional fee of 25 per cent, the line will be disconnected.