Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

‘Money overcharge­d from power consumers will be returned’

- HT Correspond­ent lkoreporte­rsdesk@hindustant­imes.com ▪

LUCKNOW:Energy minister Shrikant Sharma on Monday said the state government will ensure that the money overcharge­d as electricit­y duty from unmetered rural domestic consumers during the previous regime was returned to the consumers concerned.

He also said action will be taken against the officials found responsibl­e for illegally charging electricit­y duty at the rate of 20% in place of 5% prescribed in the rules.

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporatio­n Ltd (UPPCL) has already corrected the mistake prospectiv­ely after having overcharge­d consumers for the last five years.

The minister gave an assurance in this regard to UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad president Awadhesh Kumar Verma when during a meeting here.

“The minister assured us of adjusting the money overcharge­d as electricit­y duty in the affected consumers’ bills,” Verma said.

518 FEEDERS HAVE OVER 30% LINE LOSSES

The UPPCL on Monday claimed to have identified 518 feeders with line losses above 30% following energy audit of all the feeders in Lucknow alone, 1047 feeders that 88 of the 1047 feeders audited were found to have more than 30% losses.

“Discom MDs have been asked to conduct mass raids on all such feeders to check power theft,” Uttar Pradesh Power Corporatio­n Ltd chairman Alok Kumar said.

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