The Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission has declared a number of bill payment relief measures for industrial consumers in the State.
In view of the difficulties faced by the industry during the Covid-induced lock-down, the TS regulator suo-moto adopted instructions to provide relief measures for industrial consumers pursuant to Section 108 of the Electricity Act , 2003.
Industrial associations have made it clear to the government that industrial units are working in a precarious financial situation and that any minor disruptions in their regular workflows will disrupt their production and cash flow, and that their overall financial health will be affected.
While the loss and difficulties of workers and employees are predictable, it is equally difficult for units and businesses to pay salaries and wages by taking additional loans, while forgoing production and revenues. Industrial associations have advised that the Micro , Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) units with zero / minimum financial reserves may be the worst affected by the current situation and have demanded relief measures to save the MSME sector in the State.
Requests from industry associations were addressed at the State Cabinet meeting held on 19 April and chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Following extensive consultations, the Government agreed to extend the following relief measures to state-owned industries.
It had decided that the “electricity bills during the lockdown period will be collected as per actual consumption only and the fixed charges for the same period shall be deferred till May 31 without any penalty and interest. Further, those industries which pay the bills within the due date shall get one per cent rebate of the billed amount.”
The Government of the State referred the decision of the Cabinet to the Commission for the required action in compliance with the powers conferred on it by Section 108 of the Electricity Act , 2003.
The Electricity Regulatory Commission, headed by T Sriranga Rao, Chairman, has approved the government's directions for implementing these relief measures in the various industries.
