MUMBAI: The power bill arrears of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) across Mumbai metropolitan region has touched Rs 1,000 crore, sources said on Sunday.
The power utility firm had temporarily disconnected supply for over 2 lakh consumers so far this year for non-payment of bills, most of them unpaid since June 2020.
Of the total arrears, Bhandup zone which includes Bhandup-Mulund, Thane and Vashi (Navi Mumbai) had arrears from residential consumers to the tune of Rs 137 crore.
At the same time, the Kalyan zone which includes Dombivli-Kalyan up to Karjat/ Kasara and Vasai-Virar, Palghar had pending electricity bill payments of over Rs 350 crore from residential consumers, sources said. This included Rs 183 crore in Kalyan-Dombivli and Rs 103 crore in Vasai-Virar belt.
The other consumers include those in commercial, industry and other categories, whose non-payment of bills for over a year has also caused huge losses to the power firm.
A senior official of the state power agency announced on Sunday that the bill payment collection counters of MSEDCL will now remain open on holidays as well.
“The drive to recover arrears will continue and more connections are expected to be discontinued temporarily this week in order to speed up recovery,” she said.
