KATHMANDU: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kulman Ghising has again cut off electricity to 34 industries due to disputes over dedicated and trunk line usage.
Industrialists claim they are unable to pay the outstanding bills, arguing that while the NEA issued the bills, it failed to provide proof of electricity consumption.
During a board meeting, Energy Minister Deepak Khadka intervened, instructing that electricity lines to the industries should not be cut immediately.
He emphasized the need for a sustainable resolution to the ongoing disputes, stating that cutting off electricity during an economic crisis could cause significant damage.
Chandan Kumar Ghosh, Spokesperson for the Nepal Electricity Authority, informed Khabarhub that eight different industries have reached an agreement to pay their outstanding electricity bills in installments.
This agreement comes after the authority offered the option of cutting off service for non-payment.
"Currently, 34 industries have been disconnected due to unpaid bills; however, the lines for the eight industries that agreed to pay in installments have not been disconnected," said Ghosh.
Industrialists are demanding evidence to justify the additional premiums applied to their bills, which they believe were levied against regulations.
However, the NEA has yet to provide the necessary documentation to support the bills issued.
The industrialists have indicated they will only settle their dues after receiving records from the Time of Day (TOD) metering.
However, Ghising refused to provide a TOD record; instead of seeking an alternative, he concentrated on severing the industry's connections.
A probe commission, led by former Supreme Court Judge Girish Chandra Lal, has recommended exempting fees for the initial six months from July 2015 to December 2015.
The report notes that premium fees cannot be collected for this period as the fee determination commission did not establish any rates.
The report also suggests that studies be conducted separately for the periods from January 2016 to April 2018 and from May 2081 to June 2020.
It was announced that load shedding had ended, and the report states that premium fees should not be charged post-load shedding. Instead, charges should be based on TOD meter records for the earlier period.
Additionally, the ministry has demanded clarifications on 15 specific points from Ghising.
The government has requested detailed information regarding his delegated powers over the last four years, as well as financial statements from the NEA’s subsidiary, the head of the central store, and the board of directors over the same timeframe.
Thursday marked the deadline for Ghising to respond, but he has sent a letter to the government requesting an additional 15 days to submit the requested explanations.
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