NEA Board Holds Off on Cutting Power to Non-Paying Industries

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided not to disconnect electricity supply to industries that have failed to pay their dues. The decision was made during a board meeting on Wednesday chaired by the Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, following directives issued by the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Earlier, the NEA had been instructed by the government to recover pending arrears and reconnect electricity for industries making payments within a 15-day deadline. The NEA had announced plans to cut off power to industries that failed to settle their bills by the end of the deadline, which expired today.

However, before the disconnections could proceed, the ERC issued a directive yesterday instructing the NEA to refrain from cutting the electricity supply. This led the NEA board to reconsider its approach, opting instead to delay enforcement.

This decision highlights the balancing act between regulatory guidance and the NEA’s efforts to ensure timely payments for uninterrupted services.