Patna : In a move aimed at providing relief to consumers, North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) has revised its dues deduction process and announced an initiative to reconnect electricity for thousands of consumers whose power was cut due to non-recharge of smart meters and high outstanding amounts.
This decision is expected to benefit consumers across Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran, and West Champaran districts, where M/s Secure Limited is responsible for smart meter installation. Approximately 2.17 lakh consumers in these areas had their electricity disconnected due to the failure to recharge their smart meters or clear outstanding dues.
To address this, NBPDCL will introduce a Virtual Credit system to help restore power supply for affected consumers. Alongside this initiative, the company has revised its dues deduction mechanism. Previously, deductions for arrears were spread over 300 days. Under the new system, a maximum of 25% of the average assessment of the last three months will be deducted per month. This change aligns with guidelines set by the Ministry of Power and aims to ease the financial burden on consumers.
The updated process has been in effect since October 2024 in areas where smart meters were installed in later phases. However, consumers in the five districts where smart meters were installed earlier did not benefit from the 25% monthly deduction limit, leading to continued difficulties in recharging their meters despite the longer repayment window.
Acknowledging this, NBPDCL has extended the 25% monthly deduction facility to these consumers, ensuring that they can better manage their payments and maintain an uninterrupted power supply. This revised process is expected to significantly reduce daily deductions, making payment management more convenient and preventing further disconnection.
All affected consumers will be notified of these changes through SMS and call centres.
The Managing Director of NBPDCL urged consumers to take advantage of the new process. “This revised dues deduction system will offer significant relief, as the daily deduction amount will be considerably lower, making it easier for consumers to maintain their power supply. We encourage all consumers to recharge their smart meters promptly and benefit from uninterrupted electricity.”
