Cannot extend bill payment time any further: Tangedco

Cannot extend bill payment time any further: Tangedco

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.07.2020

Tangedco on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that it cannot grant any further extension of time for domestic consumers to pay electricity charges, as the corporation is already incurring huge costs towards maintenance and salary expenses. For low tension consumers in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, time for payment of bills was first granted upto July 6, and it was later extended to July 15 due to the extension of complete lockdown from June 19 to June 30, it said.

Additional advocate-general PH Arvind Pandian made these submissions in response to a PIL moved by C Rajashekaran seeking deferment of consumption charges till July 31.

“Already 75% of the consumers have paid the charges and for the districts, where the intensive lockdown is announced. Now the lockdown is also lifted except in four districts and wherever the lockdown is extended the board itself is extending the time for payment of consumption charges. But the same relief cannot be provided to other areas,” Pandian said.

Time for payment of such charges has been extended from time to time based on extension of lockdown by the central and the state government. In respect of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram & Thiruvallur districts extension of time has been granted till July 7. Now, it has been further extended till July 15 considering the intensive lockdown announced till June 30, he added.

Pointing out that a majority of the domestic and lowtension consumers have already paid the bills, Tangedco said, for consumption in March payable in April out of 1.35 crore low tension consumers only 8.45 lakh (6.25%) are yet to make payment. Similarly, for consumption in April payable in May only 12.94 lakh (9.5%0 are yet to make payment and for consumption in May payable in June only 18.44 lakh (13.62%) are yet to make payment, Tangedco added.

For low tension consumers in Chennai, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, time for payment of bills was first granted upto July 6, and it was later extended to July 15 due to the extension of complete lockdown from June 19 to 30