Authority cuts electricity to 18 more industries

Kathmandu – The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has disconnected the power supply to an additional 18 industries for failing to pay dues related to the use of dedicated and trunkline electricity services. Previously, NEA had cut off electricity to six industries, and as of Friday night, it extended this action to 18 more.

According to NEA spokesperson Rajan Dhakal, power was cut off to industries including Panchakanya Steel, Shyam Plastic, Goenka Foods, Cosmos Cement, SR Steel, Panchakanya Plastic, Bhalwari Automatic Factory, Jagadamba Synthetic, Everest Rolling Industries, Gharana Foods, Bishal Cement, Butwal Cement, Nigale Cement, SR Foods, Siddhartha Pet Plant, Himal Iron, Triveni Synthetic Yarn, and Sona Minerals & Oils.

Earlier, electricity supplies had been stopped for Jagadamba Steel, Reliance Spinning Mills, Shivam Cement, Ghorahi Cement, Arghakhanchi Cement, and Triveni Spinning Mills.

Spokesperson Dhakal mentioned that out of industries with overdue payments exceeding eight billion rupees, some have begun settling their dues in installments while others are undergoing legal proceedings. “Amongst those using dedicated feeders and trunklines, 14 industries have started paying in installments, and six have obtained interim court orders. Hetauda Cement and Udayapur Cement also have outstanding dues,” he stated.

The issue of collecting dues for dedicated and trunkline services has persisted unresolved since 2018. Initially, an assessment on overdue payments was conducted under the leadership of then-director Bhakta Bahadur Pun.

Since then, the authority has been striving to recover the dues. Industrialists have maintained that they do not use dedicated and trunkline services, therefore refusing to pay for them. The matter has escalated to the court, the federal Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

On September 28, NEA issued a public notice requiring industries to settle their payments within 21 days. With the option to pay in installments, the authority proceeded with disconnection according to the Electricity Tariff Collection Regulations, 2021, when payments were not made by the deadline.