A Tripura government official revealed that more than half of the approximately 9 lakh consumers of the state-run power utility, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), have not paid their electricity bills for several years. Currently, only 4,32,045 consumers, primarily from urban areas, have fulfilled their payment obligations. This trend has resulted in a staggering accumulation of pending bills amounting to Rs 475 crore.
Particularly concerning is the situation in tribal areas, where many consumers consistently neglect to pay their electricity bills despite multiple reminders. This pattern has significantly contributed to the overall backlog of unpaid bills, according to the official. “The state has 9,27,838 consumers. Among them, only about 4,32,045—roughly 40 percent—pay their monthly energy bills. Recently, we have seen that the realization of electricity bills has increased to about 45 percent,” stated TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Bose.
While bill payments in urban areas, including Agartala, have shown satisfactory rates, the situation is quite dire in tribal-dominated regions such as Tulashikar, Hezamara, Mungiakami, and Jatanbari. As of now, the total amount of pending bills stands at Rs 475 crore. In response, TSECL is implementing various strategies to enhance bill collections. Teams are actively visiting consumers to urge them to settle their dues as soon as possible, with disconnections of electricity connections becoming a reality for some non-compliant customers.
Bose also emphasized the company’s efforts to take legal action against illegal hooking of power lines, which is particularly prevalent in tribal localities. “More than 10,000 individuals were found engaging in hooking to the main power lines. Connections were disconnected last year, and fines of up to Rs 3 crore were collected. We are working to streamline the entire system,” he added.
Looking ahead, the state power utility plans to arrange a power supply of 372 MW during the summer months of June, July, and August, when electricity consumption typically peaks in the region.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/tripura/story/tripura-power-bill-dues-soar-to-rs-475-crore-as-half-of-consumers-default-1212168-2025-05-12?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-05-12 12:31:00
