TSNPDCL to install pre-paid meters to fix bill evaders

 Khammam: The Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSNPDCL) is taking all steps to install pre-paid meters from April 1 in every household.

It may be recalled that after the formation of separate State of Telangana, the TRS government has decided to supply free power to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes present across the State who were consuming power below 50 units and issued orders in 2014 to the discom to implement the same immediately.

While about 53,351 electricity connections present under Scheduled Castes category in the district, 17,549 connections were identified consuming electricity below 50 units. These units have been supplied with free power since 2014, for which the government has to pay Rs 1.23 crore to the discom, which are pending till date.

Similarly, under Scheduled Tribe category, about 83,748 connections were identified in the district, out of which, about 28,637 connections were found consuming power below 50 units. The TS government has to pay dues to the tune of Rs 27.42 crore to TSNPDCL.

In 2004, then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy introduced free supply of power of for nine hours, which increased the burden on TSNPDCL. And with the recent decision of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of supplying of 24-hour free power to farmers from January 2018, the burden on the TSNPDCL further increased. 

The TSNPDCL is facing huge loss of about Rs 4,000 crore at present, observed an official of the discom. With the installation of pre-paid meters, everyone must pay money before hand to utilise the power by which there would be less burden on people and also the discom and the government, he added.