Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, May 20: Many civilians are refusing to pay electricity bills throughout the state as Congress assumed power in the state after the elections and free electricity is one of the guarantees given by the party. However, in the four districts of Mescom, including Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi, the public is law abiding and they have not created any such pressure on Mescom and are paying their electricity bills promptly.

In the month of March in Dakshina Kannada, 64.8 million units of electricity was used by 624633 household use connections excepting beneficiaries of Bhagya Jyoti and Kuteera Jyoti schemes. Rs 60.04 crore was collected as charge. Similarly, in Udupi though the aim was to collect Rs 26.23 crore from 355740 household connections for the month of March, Rs 28.84 crore is collected by Mescom.

In April in the district of Dakshina Kannada, the electricity charges that need to be paid to Mescom are Rs 67.26 crore by the household electricity connection holders. Out of this, Rs 55.36 crore is collected. In Udupi, in the month of April, the charges that need to be collected were Rs 34.34 crore. Out of it, the company has gathered Rs 29.81 crore. As there is still time for consumers to pay the electricity bill of April, the full amount will be recovered as per Mescom officials.

An official of Mescom said that in some areas people are asking whether they need to pay the electricity bill as the government is giving free electricity. However, after the Mescom staff makes them understand that the rule will come into implementation only after the order is passed, the civilians are paying the bill.