PSPCL acts tough against defaulters

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, January 20

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has directed all its field officers not to release any new electricity connection or allow extension of load to any consumer or his as associate against whom any outstanding amount of the PSPCL was due and/or premises on which defaulting amount existed. In this regard provisions of Supply Code 2014 Regulations and Electricity Supply Instructions Manual (ESIM), 2018 instructions have been cited for meticulous follow up.

Taking a serious note of the violations of Supply Code Regulations and ESIM Instructions by officers, the PSPCL Chief Engineer/Commercial has stated in an office memo (29-33 dated January 14, 2021) that it had come to the notice that electricity connections were being released or extension of load was being allowed to defaulting consumers/premises which impeded recovery of default amount and caused financial loss to the PSPCL.

Quoting clause 3.3.7(b) of the ESIM 2018 the memo says, “For the applicant/consumer or their association against whom any outstanding amount is due and no dispute is pending adjudication before any of the Dispute Settlement Committees, Forum, Ombudsman, Court or any Appellant Authority then their application shall be registered only after recovery of 100 per cent of outstanding dues.”

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has further said the matter has been taken very seriously by the management and accordingly, it is directed that electricity connection or additional load to the applicant/consumer against whom any outstanding amount is due and/or to the premises at which defaulting amount exists, shall not be released until recovery of 100 per cent of defaulting amount subject to the condition that no dispute of applicant/consumer or their associates is pending adjudication before any dispute settlement committee, forum, ombudsman, court or appellate authority as per existing regulations and instructions.

The field officers have been further directed to strictly follow all the Regulations of Supply Code 2014 and ESIM, 2018 Instructions for release of electricity connections /additional load and recovery of defaulting amount to avoid any loss of revenue to the PSPCL. “Disciplinary action will be initiated against officials or employees failing to adhere to these instructions,” says the memo.

No new connection till payment of dues

Taking a serious note of the violations of Supply Code Regulations and ESIM Instructions by officers, the PSPCL Chief Engineer/Commercial has stated in an office memo (29-33 dated January 14, 2021) that it had come to the notice that electricity connections were being released or extension of load was being allowed to defaulting consumers/premises which impeded recovery of default amount and caused financial loss to the PSPCL.