On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh govt. has announced a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for consumers facing legal disputes and whose power supply has been disconnected permanently. The scheme will be applicable between October 21 and November 30’ 2021.
“The scheme will be helpful to the farmers and small consumers having electricity load up to 2KW. They will be given a chance to pay their pending arrears in six installments. Consumers having an electricity load between 2KW and 5KW will be given a waiver of 50% on surcharge. The scheme will be applicable for consumers whose power supply has been disconnected permanently and those facing legal disputes”-said Srikant Sharma (Power Minister, UP government).
In the wake of providing relief to the small commercial establishments that got hit after the economic slowdown after the COVID19 lockdown.
As the farmers and rural consumers were facing power outages because of poor distribution networks, CM Yogi Adityanath directed the authorities not to cut off the power supply for the affected farmers who are defaulting on the payment of electricity bills.
This move attains a political aspect as it is done to counter the promise of Aam Admi Party and Samajwadi Party of providing cheaper or even free supply of electricity if voted to power.
According to UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) “A consumer can avail the benefit of this scheme online at the office of respective executive engineers or sub-divisional officers and will get services at the Common Service Centres (CSC, set up by the Ministry of Electronics and IT), in the rural areas”.
M Devraj (UPPCL Chairman) added, “All the distribution companies have been instructed to carry out campaigns, drives, and hold camps to ensure that a maximum number of consumers are benefitted from this scheme and their progress will be reviewed by discoms on a daily basis”.
