PUNE/NASHIK: The country’s largest power distribution company — Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) — is in financial trouble because of the mounting power bill arrears of consumers, especially residential, commercial and small industrial users.
In many parts of the state, the power bill dues from consumers have doubled. Company officials are hoping for an improvement in the situation soon. They said the company had continued to purchase power to cater to the increasing demand during the lockdown but the outstanding dues from consumers had put them in a financial fix.
The distribution company said it is important that people clear their dues because almost 85% of the bill revenue is used to purchase power. “Electricity consumption from commercial consumers and agriculture is increasing after the Unlock. But the MSEDCL is finding it difficult to make ends meet because of the massive bill arrears,” a statement issued in Pune from the company said.
The power company added 5.72 lakh new consumers in Pune during the six months from March to September this year. However, bill arrears went up by Rs 1,134 crore during this period. “At present, over 17.77 lakh residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural consumers have pending bill dues of Rs 4,324 crore,” the statement read.
Kolhapur circle, which comprises Sangli and Kolhapur district, had raked up Rs 53.44 crore arrears by Marchend this year. That figure jumped to Rs 327.17 crore by September-end.
According to official data, the dues from consumers by September-end was Rs 403.26 crore in Kolhapur district, Rs 118.63 crore in Sangli district and Rs 349 crore in Nashik and Ahmednagar disticts. The last figure was 205% more than the dues in March-end.
Sources in Nashik said that the company had suspended the recovery drive during the lockdown, which had led to the rise in arrears.
Chief engineer Anjana Pagare said the company had to buy power using its funds but was unable to recover the outstanding amount. Around 30% consumers have failed to clear their dues.
“We understand that the current situation is unprecedented and has caused many problems. Hence, the recovery drive has been suspended. Now slowly, consumers have started paying their dues,” Pagare said.
Another officer said that people with dues of around Rs 5,000 or less were paying up, but that was not the case with those running up bills of Rs 20,000 or more. Many consumers had challenged the “exorbitant” bills charged during the lockdown period.
