Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) is struggling to recover bills of lockdown period (three months of April, May and June) as record consumption along with kicking of new rates have put citizens in a tight spot.

 

ove out the consumption reportedly increased and to make matters worse from April 1, 2020, new power tariff came into force adding to inflation. A sum of whopping Rs 16,19,52,87,185/- remains outstanding in MSEDCL’s Nagpur Zone as the consumers are still hoping that State Government would provide some concessions for the excess usage. Maximum amount is pending in Wardha Circle in the Zone where recovery is 66.76 per cent followed by Nagpur Rural Circle with 66.76 per cent recovery.

 

According to statistics collated by MSEDCL, recovery of bills in Nagpur Rural (District) Circle from April 2020 to December 2020 is 66.76 per cent. As against total billing of Rs 3,8247,08,683 the consumers have paid Rs 2,55,31,97,358.As against this recovery during the same period in last year was 37.37 per cent, 24.04 per cent and 23.38 per cent, respectively in the Rural circle. It had subsequently rose to 78.79 per cent, 92.73 per cent, 76.07 per cent, 85.85 per cent, 86.37 in July, August, September, October and November, respectively in year 2019. The recovery of bills jumped to whopping 153.91 per cent in December last year.

 

In Nagpur Urban (City) Circle, the MSEDCL has recovered Rs 11,683.977,786 as against total billing of Rs 13,410,044,454 from April to December last year giving average of 87.13 per cent. During lockdown period of April, May and June, the recovery of bills was 50.91 per cent, 43.53 per cent and 35.58 per cent, respectively. The recovery jumped to 113.85 per cent in July, 2020, to 100.91 per cent in August, 111.77 per cent in September, 103.12 per cent in October, 99.28 per cent in November and whopping 175.57 per cent in the month of December.

 

In Wardha Circle, MSEDCL has recovered bills of Rs 2,008,056,386 out of total bills of Rs 3,097,894,353 so far which is just 64.82 per cent. The recovery was just 35.57 per cent in month of April, 32.39 per cent in May and 24.06 per cent June, 2020. It increased to 64.94 per cent in July, 81.52 per cent in August, 88.32 per cent in September, 86.38 per cent in October, 78.81 per cent in November and 131.92 per cent in December 2020. A senior official of MSEDCL said that some of the bills are pending since lockdown period as customers are hopeful that something concrete might still emerge and State Government would bail them out of the tight situation.