Pune: Electricity Supply Of 14 Lakh Customers To Be Disconnected For Not Paying Electricity Bills  

Mrunal Jadhav

Pune, February 10, 2021: Around 14.29 lakh domestic, commercial and industrial customers in western Maharashtra, who have not paid their electricity bills since April 1, 2020, will face power cuts within the next three weeks, directed MSEDCL Pune Regional Director Ankush Nale.

“Considering the financial crisis MSEDCL is currently facing, consumers should pay their dues quickly and cooperate with the department. The bills can also be paid in installments if required. Power supply to customers who have not paid their electricity bills will be cut off as per the rules,” informed Nale during an online meeting.

Nale was speaking at a recent video conferencing meeting to review other issues, including electricity arrears in western Maharashtra.
Chief Engineer of Pune Circle Sachin Talewar, along with superintending engineers, executive engineers, and senior officers from all the five districts in the region were present during the meeting.

Currently, Pune (Rs 1032.80 crore), Satara (Rs 140.36 crore), Solapur (Rs 259.12 crore), Sangli (Rs 192.54 crore) and Kolhapur (Rs 337.43 crore) districts have arrears of Rs 1,962.27 crore to domestic, commercial, and industrial customers. Out of this, 14.29 lakh consumers with arrears of Rs 1247.49 crore have not paid any electricity bill since April 1, 2020.

Despite frequent direct contact from MSEDCL, the customers have not paid the arrears. Therefore, the power supply will be cut for these customers in the next three weeks. “However,  before that, the customers should cooperate by paying the arrears,” appealed Nale.

Western Maharashtra has the highest number of household consumers (12.68 lakh) who have not paid their electricity bills even once in the last 10 months, with arrears of Rs 856.81 crore. Around 1,38,870 commercial customers are in arrears of Rs 264.32 crore and 22,454 industrial customers are in arrears of Rs 126.35 crore.

As the customers are not responding to the doubt, complaints, and requests to pay electricity bills, the power supply will be cut off from such consumers, informed Nale.

He suggested that staff and officers from other offices should be included in the squads to take action against bill defaulters.