NewBiz Report

KATHMANDU, August 8

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on Thursday submitted to the Public Account Committee (PAC) a detailed record of the electricity, inducing the time of the day (TOD) Metre data, supplied to the industries through the dedicated feeders and trunk lines.

Kulman Ghising, NEA's managing director, confirmed to New Business Age that the around 100,000 pages of information on the TOD metre data, logbooks, billing in Ampere, and details of bills provided to industrialists were submitted to the parliamentary committee.

“The TOD metre data was not necessary earlier. However, since it is being sought after, we have submitted it,” said Ghising.

Eakram Giri, secretary of the Public Accounts Committee of parliament, said that they have received around three dozen packs of files, including the TOD metre data.

“The committee will review the data and discuss it in the next meeting,” Giri said.

The industries, which have defaulted in payment of bill for the use of electricity supplied under the dedicated feeders and trunk lines during the load-shedding period, have been demanding the TOD metre data for the settlement of dues.

The defaulting industries have taken a stance that they will not pay the dues unless the NEA provides them with the TOD metre data.

The NEA, on the other hand, maintains that it has provided all the required bills and has repeatedly asked the industries to clear the bills.

According to the NEA, the industrialists owe Rs 6.65 billion in addition to a 25 per cent fine, amounting to about Rs 8.25 billion. Initially, the NEA had calculated that industrialists who consumed electricity from the dedicated feeder and trunk line owed Rs 21.3 billion. However, the arrears were revised after taking into consideration the recommendation of a commission formed by the government to address the dispute.

Specifically, Jagdamba Steel owes Rs 1.60 billion, Jagdamba Synthetic Rs 200 million, Reliance Spinning Mills Rs 753.7 million, Ghorahi Cement Rs 510 million, Arghakhanchi Cement Rs 440 million, and Hulas Steel Rs 140 million.