NPDCL justifies collection of ASD from customers

Warangal: The Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Ltd (NPDCL) has justified the collection of an additional security deposit from its customers.

We are saddled with a total due of Rs 305 crore from around 7.16 lakh customers and hence are not able to clear the bills from the power companies. In view of this, we are collecting an additional security deposit (ASD) from the customers as per an order issued by the power regulatory commission, claimed the chairman and MD of TSNPDCL, A Gopal Rao, here on Tuesday.

He told the media that as per the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) order, 2004, every consumer must pay a security deposit to NPDCL based on an average two months’ utilization of units / consumption of electricity in the previous year.

The electricity bills will be issued to the consumers after one month of consumption of electricity and the consumer will have 15 days to pay the bill; and with 15 more days with a sur-charge. Based on this, the security deposit amount will be fixed, taking an average of two months’ consumption of electricity by the consumers. As per guidelines of RBI, changes will be made in the electricity bills by counting the interest every year, he stated.

The consumers using overload must regularize their services every year by paying Rs 200 for each kw. If the consumer does not pay the electricity bills within the time limit, the service will be disconnected after three months, he said.