Pune: MSEDCL Faces Rs. 7.51 Crore Dues as Government Institutions Delay Bill Payments

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 24th December 2024: Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has found itself in a difficult situation as several government institutions have failed to pay their electricity bills on time. The unpaid bills have accumulated to a total of crores, with defaulters including the Pune Municipal Corporation, the General Administration, and the Police Administration. Despite this, MSEDCL officials remain confident that the dues will be cleared soon, avoiding the need for extreme measures.
In the Pune Zone of MSEDCL, 4,672 government establishments have delayed their payments, resulting in total arrears amounting to Rs. 7.51 crore. While delays in bill payments by the general public are not uncommon, the added burden of unpaid dues from government institutions puts significant financial strain on MSEDCL. This, in turn, affects the quality and reliability of services provided to consumers.
As per reports, the General Administration Department offices owe Rs. 62.68 lakh, Zilla Parishad offices owe Rs. 76.45 lakh, Municipal Corporation offices owe Rs. 10.20 lakh, Education Department offices owe Rs. 23.43 lakh, Gram Panchayat offices owe Rs. 22.82 lakh, Home Ministry offices (including police stations) owe Rs. 82.46 lakh, Health Ministry offices owe Rs. 13.64 lakh, and Agriculture Ministry offices owe Rs. 44.68 lakh to MSEDCL’s Pune Zone.
In most cases, the budgets for these government institutions are announced in January or February each year, and the bills are typically cleared by the end of the financial year. However, while payments are expected, managing operations becomes challenging in the interim due to ongoing expenses like salaries and maintenance. Although MSEDCL usually refrains from taking strict action against government institutions, in extreme cases, measures such as cutting off the electricity supply are enforced.
A spokesperson for MSEDCL told Punekar News: “As these are government institutions, arrears often accumulate as the financial year progresses. However, they are generally cleared by the end of the year. Payments are made from time to time, and in recent years, no major action has been required as timely notices have been served. However, we will take action if the dues remain unpaid even after warnings.”