New committee formed to calculate electricity dues based on TOD meters

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has established a three-member committee to address disputes over electricity tariffs billed to dedicated feeder and trunk line users during Nepal’s load-shedding era.

The committee, formed on Monday, is led by Professor Arvind Kumar Mishra of the National College of Engineering. It has been tasked with reviewing arrears based on Time of Day (TOD) meters, following recommendations from a prior commission chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal. The new body will collect and verify facts to determine the legitimacy of outstanding dues.

The dispute revolves around industrialists’ refusal to pay Rs 6 billion in electricity bills issued by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for uninterrupted power supply during load-shedding periods from 2016 to 2018. Including penalties, the total arrears have risen to Rs 8 billion. Industrialists argue that the charges calculated without TOD meters are unjust and demand recalculations.

In January 2024, the Lal Commission reduced the initially reported arrears from Rs 20 billion to Rs 6 billion, a move welcomed by industries but criticized by the NEA as disproportionately lenient.

The newly formed committee includes Chartered Accountants Sujan Kumar Kafle and Shriramraj Pandey as members. Dipak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a fair resolution, balancing the NEA’s and industrial users’ interests.

The committee aims to finalize its findings promptly and propose a resolution to end the prolonged standoff.