Shillong: Meghalaya could face under power cut as Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has warned that it would regulate power supply unless its dues are cleared by April 14.
In a notice addressed to the Chairman Cum Managing Director of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL,) Arun Kumar Kembhavi, PGCIL said that power supply will be regulated if outstanding dues of Rs 56.89 crore are not cleared by April 8.
“If MeECL fails to clear the total outstanding dues by April 8, it would be compelled to regulate 50 MW power it supplies to the MeECL from midnight of April 14,” PGCIL
Chief General Manager (Commercial) CTU, J Mazumder noted in his letter to the CMD of MeECL.
“Despite repeated requests, MeECL is yet to clear due of Rs 56.89 crore, out of which an amount of Rs 46.51 crore is the outstanding for over 45 days,” Mazumder said, adding that PGCIL had on February 17 written to MeECL requesting the corporation to liquidate the outstanding dues within 60 days (by April 08, 2021) failing which regulation of power supply shall be enforced.
PGCIL said power will be regulated from various power plants of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) from which MeECL has allocation of power under long term access … the quantum shall be in proportion of the allocation from NEEPCO, NHPC & NTPC may be decided by NERLDC based on merit order of dispatch.
MeECL is designated Inter-State Transmission System customer (DIC) which is availing Inter-state Transmission System (ISTS) network for transfer of power from various power plants located in different parts of the country to MeECL and is under obligations to make timely payment of transmission tariff and to open requisite Letter of Credit towards payment security mechanism in line with the Electricity Act 2003 and provisions of CERC Regulations.
“The implementation of regulation of power supply as per out earlier notice dated 29. 01. 2021 was modified based on the commitment of MeCL for clearing dues, but MeCL failed to comply their own commitment,” the POWERGRID official noted.
Stating that it is a “matter of serious concern that MeECL has consistently failed to clear the full dues against the monthly bills raised on it towards transmission of tariff despite regular follow up by the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) and commitments by MeECL.”
