THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Considering the mounting arrears, especially from top industrial houses, KSEB has restructured and reconstituted the Task Force on Collection of Arrears under Chief Engineer (Commercial and Tariff). The new Task Force, besides scientifically preparing a database of defaulters, will also devise strategies and schemes for recouping outstandings, which could also include incentives such as write off of excess surcharge. The total amount left unpaid, not including the default of domestic consumers, have swelled to Rs 1112.99 crore.
The focus, however, will be on the arrears of HT and EHT consumers. Adding the arrears of domestic consumers, the total outstanding power dues is Rs 1999 crore. “More than 70 percent of the total accumulated arrears are related to HT and EHT consumers,” a top KSEB source said. The latest figure put out by KSEB Limited shows that the total liabilities of top industrial houses alone is Rs 398.89 crore.
Raising invoices and monitoring of revenue collection of HT-EHT consumers are being done at Corporate Office under Special Officer (Revenue). Presently, Special Officer (Revenue) is under the direct control of the Chief Engineer (Commercial & Tariff). The Chief Engineer has limitations and difficulties in tackling all the issues raised by the Special Officer (Revenue). Further, there are issues related to the implementation of the HT-EHT billing software. “ Special Officer (Revenue) will be brought under the control of a senior engineer in the rank of a deputy chief engineer,” the KSEB source said.
