Latest news with #TripuraStateElectricityCorporationLimited
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Amid protests against smart meters and ‘exorbitant' bills, Tripura power agency asked to explain ‘consistent underbilling'
Amid statewide protests against smart meters and allegations of exorbitant power bills, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has served a showcause notice to TDS Management Consultants Pvt Ltd, accusing it of submitting average bills for consumers who have functional meters, causing losses to the corporation. In the letter written to the power distribution agency on Tuesday, R K Roy, DGM (Revenue), TSECL, stated that meter readers in the Khowai Electrical subdivision were found to have submitted average consumption data for several consumers who have functional meters capable of recording consumption. The official further stated that the comparative billing data showed 'consistent underbilling, which has caused a direct financial loss to Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL)'. 'This act violates the contractual agreement and demonstrates either gross negligence or deliberate misconduct by your meter readers, specifically of that particular area. As per the agreement, it is required to: Record actual meter readings from functional meters without fail, Avoid average billing unless supported by valid justification ( meter defect/inaccessibility), Ensure no action results in loss of revenue to TSECL,' reads the letter. 'You are hereby directed to show cause within 7 (seven) days from the date of receipt of this notice, stating why penal action should not be taken against you under the provisions of the contract Agreement. In case of failure to provide a satisfactory reply within the stipulated time, appropriate action shall be taken without any further correspondence,' the letter continued. The state has recently witnessed protests by Opposition political parties against the government's decision to install smart electric meters and hike power tariffs. Speaking during a protest, a Congress leader said, 'The power tariff has been hiked without informing the people. We strongly condemn this and demand the withdrawal of the hike. Moreover, they have included a Rs 30 road tax in the name of CNG and PNG. Their party is opposing smart meters in West Bengal, but in Tripura the power minister is in favour of smart meters.' The Trinamool Congress protested in front of Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath's home, demanding that both decisions be withdrawn. 'We will continue our protest till he withdraws these,' a TMC leader said. Raising the same demand, the CPM protested in front of Udaipur Bidyut Bhawan Nath later said that consumers would be able to keep both meters–their current electronic meters and the new smart meters. 'If anyone can prove any fault in smart meters, the government will roll back the decision to install them,' he said. 'There has been an attempt to confuse people. The power tariff and smart meter are two separate things. In the seven years (since 2018), the power tariff was hiked by 24.9 per cent under the BJP government, while the tariff rose by 116.03 per cent in seven years under CPM rule,' the power minister said.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tripura electricity corpn looks for ways to recover 450cr dues
Agartala: Amid public outrage against the decision to install smart meters for electricity consumers, the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has been looking for options to recover the outstanding billed amount of Rs 450 crore from consumers. TSECL managing director Biswajit Basu said around five lakh consumers have not paid the bill for past few months, adding the financial burden on the corporation. Claiming a slight improvement in the recovery, Basu said regular payers have increased from 39% to 49% over a year. To modernise billing and improve efficiency, TSECL is rolling out free-of-cost smart meters in a phased manner, with 88,000 installed, primarily in govt establishments, considering its measurement accuracy. It's trying to modernise the power sector with an Rs 603 crore push and set a goal to install six lakh smart meters across the state by March 2027. The initiative is being implemented under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme of the Centre. These smart meters are being installed on the premises of electricity consumers across Tripura. According to Basu, the smart metering project is part of a larger effort to upgrade the state's power infrastructure through digital technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Meanwhile, the Tripura Electricity Consumers Association opposed the smart meter installation initiative and demanded to roll back the decision. "Smart meters are a tool to smartly robbing electricity users. TSECL is misleading people, intimidating them, and forcing them to do so," they said.
Hans India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Tripura: Authorities get strict as 60 per cent consumers found not paying power bills
Agartala: Around 60 per cent electricity consumers in Tripura do not pay energy bills, forcing the authorities to take drastic steps including disconnection of power lines and imposition of hefty fines against the defaulters, an official said on Saturday. A senior official of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) said that out of 9.87 lakh electricity consumers in the state, only 4.32 lakh customers are paying their bills on time. 'Lakhs of electricity consumers, mostly in rural and interior areas, do not pay their electricity bills. We have imposed a hefty fine and disconnected electric lines of the defaulters,' the official said. He said that during the past two years, the electricity lines of thousands of default consumers were disconnected. 'In many occasions, the TSECL engineers and workers were attacked or prevented when they went to disconnect the power lines of default consumers,' the official said. Tripura Power and Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath earlier said that the TSECL has undertaken a massive effort across the state to install rooftop solar power plants in thousands of homes under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a central scheme encouraging rooftop solar power adoption through generous subsidies. Under the scheme, residents can install rooftop solar panels and not only reduce their electricity expenses to zero but also earn refunds for surplus energy supplied back to the grid, the Minister had said. 'My last power bill before installing the solar plant was Rs 8,726. Now, after switching to solar, I received a refund of Rs 763 from TSECL,' Nath said. The TSECL purchasing power from the solar power suppliers at Rs 2.65 per unit the Minister had said adding that over 300 households have installed rooftop solar plants so far in Tripura and thousands of families registered their names seeking to install such solar plants under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Nath on Friday said that the TSECL is contemplating to use drones and other technologies to detect power theft, power loss and illegal hook line usage in the state. The Minister urged the people to pay electricity bills on time and help the corporation to ensure steady power supply by discouraging theft and wastage. Tripura has been a power surplus state since 2011 and supplies electricity to other northeastern states and neighbouring Bangladesh from its several gas-based power plants.
