Positive News Today

Positive News Today
Energy News

Maharashtra: MSEDCL in dire straits as consumers not paying bills

December 7, 2020014
Share0


Maharashtra: MSEDCL in dire straits as consumers not paying billsNAGPUR: State-runpowerdiscom Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is indire straitsasconsumersare not paying bills and their dues are continuously mounting. Director (finance) Ravindra Sawant has asked all chief engineers (CEs) to start recovering dues but has not ordered disconnection of defaulting consumers.

In a recent letter to the CEs, Sawant stated, “Considering the acute shortage of funds, it has become very difficult to manage even day-to-day expenditures. To improve the liquidity position of MSEDCL we need to start recovery of current demand as well as arrears by taking appropriate action.”

The arrears owed by non-agricultural consumers to MSEDCL in March 2020 were Rs2,726 crore. This figure shot up to Rs6,829 crore in September 2020, which translates into an increase of 150 per cent, or 2.5 times the March figure. In addition, farmers owe thousands of crores to the discom.

An MSEDCL official told TOI, “Due to the low recovery, we are unable to pay offgeneration companies, which in turn are defaulting on bills of coal companies. Consumers should realize that power does not come for free and start paying their bills regularly, and also clear their past dues. Otherwise it will become difficult to run the show.”

According to the official, opposition parties were largely responsible for the mess. “Even though we did not send inflated bills to consumers and provided them instalments, the opposition parties created an impression that we were overcharging the consumers,” he said.

The official added, “Consequently, many consumers just refused to pay their bills. They have been told by opposition leaders that the latter will not allow their connections to be disconnected.”

The steps recommended by Sawant include: approaching high-value consumers through telephone or e-mail and taking continuous follow-ups till complete recovery, resolving billing complaints of consumers immediately, increasing consumer awareness regarding online payment of bills as a completely safe option through advertisements, and approaching division-level government officers for recovery of dues owed by their departments.

Former energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, however, blamed the company for the mess. “MSEDCL issued average bills during the summer and sent huge bills after that. People felt cheated and hence did not pay the bills. MSEDCL should correct the bills first,” he told TOI.

Bawankule added, “Secondly, state government should waive 300 units per family for the months of March, April, May and June and compensate MSEDCL for the same. MSEDCL should then recover the remaining dues.”

Follow and connect with us on , Facebook, Linkedin

Source

Share0
previous post
Goa: Cabinet grants nod for coal block consultant
next post
Important to have large basket of COVID-19 vaccine candidates: DBT Secretary

Related posts

Government hikes ethanol price for doping in petrol by up to Rs 3.34 per litre

TheEarthLabNovember 16, 2020

Malaysia’s CIMB commits to phase out coal financing by 2040

TheEarthLabJanuary 5, 2021

Government hikes ethanol price for doping in petrol by up to Rs 3.34 per litre

TheEarthLabNovember 19, 2020
Click to comment

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Instead of Staying Home, American Youth Are Answering the Call to Serve With AmeriCorps
  • India took 34 days to achieve one crore COVID vaccinations, 2nd fastest after US: Government
  • Office properties attracted $3.1 billion in 2020, 62% of total realty investment, says report
  • Rs 1.08 lakh crore worth loans sanctioned under discom liquidity package
  • With Vaccine Delay, Biden Warns of Uncertain End to Pandemic

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020

Subscrible

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • News
  • Projects
  • About
  • Contact
  • TV Pitch
FacebookTwitterInstagram
@2020 - thelab.earth. All Right Reserved.
theLAB.earth
  • Global
    • Global News
    • Global Media
    • Global Events
    • Global Projects
  • Energy
    • Energy News
    • Energy Media
    • Energy Events
    • Energy Projects
  • Water
    • Water News
    • Water Media
    • Water Events
    • Water Projects
  • Human Kindness
    • Human Kindness News
    • Human Kindness Media
    • Human Kindness Events
    • Human Kindness Projects
  • Projects
logo
  • Global
    • Global News
    • Global Media
    • Global Events
    • Global Projects
  • Energy
    • Energy News
    • Energy Media
    • Energy Events
    • Energy Projects
  • Water
    • Water News
    • Water Media
    • Water Events
    • Water Projects
  • Human Kindness
    • Human Kindness News
    • Human Kindness Media
    • Human Kindness Events
    • Human Kindness Projects
  • Projects
@2020 - thelab.earth. All Right Reserved.
FacebookTwitterInstagram