PSPCL launches ‘one-time settlement’ scheme for defaulting consumers

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 18

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has come out with a ‘one-time settlement’ (OTS) scheme for consumers of all categories (except AP-tube well connections) to settle default of payment or defaulting amount existing as on December 31, 2020.

The scheme will remain open for a period of three months from the date of issue (April 15, 2021) of the commercial circular and all consumers intending to avail the same will be required to deposit Rs 2,000 as processing fee along with their option/undertaking.

For ‘power intensive’ units, the processing fee is Rs 5,000.

The processing fee will be adjusted in the final settlement bill but in case the consumer fails to deposit the settled amount, the processing will be forfeited.

As per the PSPCL circular, all consumers, who have defaulted in payment of energy bills and surcharge or interest thereon, additional security (consumption) or interest thereon, arrears of voltage surcharge and interest thereon, but have not been disconnected due to subsequent payments against energy bills, will be eligible for the OTS scheme.

Likewise, connections released to government departments, who have defaulted in payment of energy bills for the supply of electricity but cannot be disconnected in public interest and are ready for the OTS or consumers, who are disconnected due to any type of default before the issue of this scheme, or those who are under any type of dispute for over six months and are willing for out-of-court settlement of the outstanding dues and defaulting amount, are also eligible for the consideration under the OTS.

“The disputed outstanding amount may include arrears, sundries charged on account of wrong metering, load surcharge, demand surcharge, power factor surcharge, supply voltage surcharge, PLEC, overhauling of account of previous period as per general conditions of tariff but shall not include amount assessed on account of theft of electricity or unauthorised use of electricity will be considered under the scheme,” the PSPCL has mandated.

However, cases in which some issues stand decided by any court will not be covered under the scheme.

All consumers who have been disconnected on account of any default and want to clear outstanding amount only and do not want reconnection but only require an NOC will also be considered under the OTS.