In a bid to address the alarming surge in unpaid electricity bills, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has issued a stern warning to defaulters, with Pune bearing the brunt of a staggering ₹332.79 crore in arrears. With 17.85 lakh consumers falling behind on payments, MSEDCL is gearing up for stringent actions.
Key Highlights:
- Regional Defaulters: Pune, Solapur, Satara, and Sangli collectively account for ₹332.79 crore in unpaid electricity bills, with Pune leading the list.
- Pune’s Predicament: Pune City faces the highest arrears, with ₹221.63 crore pending, impacting 15.86 lakh domestic consumers and 1.65 lakh commercial consumers.
- Regional Arrear Breakdown: Solapur, Kolhapur, and Sangli share the financial burden, collectively accumulating arrears amounting to ₹102.21 crore among 7.95 lakh consumers.
- Enforcement Measures: Ankush Nale, the regional director of MSEDCL, has directed officials to take strict actions against defaulters, resulting in approximately 50,000 disconnections so far.
- Illicit Connections: MSEDCL emphasizes inspections to identify and penalize those engaged in illegal power consumption, contributing to the financial strain.
Challenges and Urgent Solutions:
Despite repeated appeals, consumer compliance remains a challenge, severely impacting MSEDCL’s financial stability. Urgent measures are required to mitigate this issue and restore financial equilibrium, allowing MSEDCL to continue its operations seamlessly.
