Hyderabad: Due to an ever increasing number of defaulters, the TS Southern Power Distribution Company Limited is considering including a more detailed list with the names of defaulters of smaller amounts. Currently, the discom posts the details (except photograph) of the defaulters with a standing amount of over Rs 50,000, but defaulters of smaller amounts need to be included as well. There are an estimated four to five lakh defaulters in the region taking the default amount to over Rs 300 crore in Hyderabad city (other than government offices), while a total of Rs 11,000 crore is due from all consumers (including government departments).
The arrears have been increasing at the rate of 20 per cent each year endangering the financial health of the discom. A huge amount that is lost in power theft is also a part of the problem. States like Maharashtra have used methods like cash prize for information on power theft to curb the menace. However, despite the plans, the discom’s arrears as well as losses due to power theft have continued to go upwards. Hyderabad city alone accounts for transmission anddistribution losses and power theft to the tune of Rs 350 to 400 crore.
Meanwhile, the biggest defaulters are the government offices and departments. “While the panchayat raj department leads with Rs 400 crore in unpaid bills; municipal administration, along with water works, stands at Rs 350 crore default. The TSSPDCL alone has a default amount of Rs 1,100 plus pending currently,” said an official.
