Haldwani – Consumers will no longer be allowed to pay their electricity bills in installments. Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has issued a directive stating that partial bill payments will not be accepted. This order will be implemented by the City Division of the Electricity Distribution Department until March.
Many consumers in the city who struggle to pay the full bill at once were previously given the option of installment-based payments. However, this time UPCL has imposed strict rules. According to sources, the decision has been taken in view of the financial year closing. Officials claim that several consumers intentionally delay payments and later demand installment options when the dues become larger. Under the new order, consumers will have to pay the entire electricity bill at once.
There are 50,000 consumers under the City Division, out of which 350 consumers with dues above ₹50,000 collectively owe ₹4.50 crore. Additionally, around 5,000 consumers with dues below ₹50,000 owe ₹6 crore. Notices are currently being issued to those whose outstanding amount exceeds ₹50,000.
Earlier, UPCL allowed consumers to avail relief by depositing at least 50 percent of the bill amount. The corporation believes the new directive will pressure defaulters into clearing their bills to avoid connection disconnection.
On Wednesday, the Rural Division’s Vidhut Vitaran team disconnected the electricity connections of two shop owners in the Teepinagar area for non-payment of dues amounting to ₹50,000. According to Assistant Engineer Dheeraj Pant, strict action is being taken against those who fail to clear pending bills.
Consumers may still deposit 50 percent of their dues until December. However, from January to March, they will be required to pay the entire outstanding amount in one go. UPCL has posted the official notice at its office.
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Bill payment must be made in full between January and March. This direction has been officially issued. -Pradeep Kumar, Executive Engineer, UPCL
