Power supply to households in 11,397 Odisha villages to be disconnected over unpaid bills

Bhubaneswar: The Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) will undertake power supply disconnection drive in households of 11,397 villages under its jurisdiction over unpaid bills. Speaking to media persons, CESU CEO Arun Bothra said 413 squads have been formed to carry out disconnection drive in 20 divisions starting January 16, 2020.

Bothra further said 1.1 lakh consumers have paid arrear amount of Rs 21 crore of Rs 1,971 pending bills till January 5, 2020.

CESU started distribution of disconnection notices from December 20, 2019. Deadline for serving the notices is January 10, 2020. Disconnection notices were served to 8,36,269 domestic consumers for Rs 1,251.35 crore whereas 59,190 commercial consumers get the notices for Rs 243 crore, he added.

This apart, the State government has decided to make all the departments arrear free in the current financial year. The departments will be asked to clear all dues on monthly basis through online payment (IFMS) from next financial year, he said.

A release issued by CESU said for arrear amount up to and equal to Rs. 25,000 consumers will have to pay 30% as down payment. Another maximum three installments will be given to them by Junior Managers / SDOs for payment of rest of the amount.

Arrear amount > Rs.25,000 and =Rs.50,000: 30% as down payment followed by another maximum six installments be given by SDOs, the release pointed out.