Bhubaneswar: In view of the requests made by a large number of customers Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) has decided to conduct its disconnection drive in a phased manner but will begin it on January 16 as planned.
In the first phase, CESU will target only commercial consumers. The second phase will focus on affluent and high value domestic consumers with huge outstanding arrears. It will include high load domestic consumers having multi-storey houses, air conditioners and four wheelers. Those who pay income tax but do not clear their electricity dues will also be included in the list. In the third phase, all other consumers will be covered. It will specially focus on consumers who have not paid electricity dues for years together.
It may be recalled that in December 2019, CESU had announced an arrear collection-cum-disconnection drive from January 16, 2020. The Utility had a pending arrears of Rs. 1971 crores to be collected from more than 7 lakh consumers at the end of November 2019.
Although more than one lakh customers have paid their pending bills, many have requested CESU for more time. Some have raised disputes regarding faulty bills and requested for rectification before they can make a payment.
