Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has extended its incentive package for industries up to June 30, 2004 in the consumers interest.
All categories of industry except seasonal connections governed under tariff-F and sessional industries like ice factories, ginning factories, oil mills and rice shellers etc having regular connections, under further orders, will be regulated under the incentive package.
The industrial units lying disconnected for six months or more could pay 25 percent of their total arrears as down payment whereupon their connection will be restored subject to the provisions of 'Reconnection Policy' of October 11, 1999 in vogue.
The balance arrears outstanding against the industrial unit to be paid in instalments. The chief executives of distribution companies are empowered to decide upon the number of instalments irrespective of number of months to which the arrears pertain. But the number of instalments shall not exceed twelve.
Minimum/fixed charges recoverable under clause-2 of the reconnection policy dated October 11, 1999 are exempted for those consumers who would come forward for reconnection and pay 25 percent of total arrears as down payment before June 30, 2004. Exemption would also be admissible to those consumers against whom there are no arrears.
The disconnected industrial consumers applying for reconnection within five years of disconnection date will be given relief for the cost they had already paid less depreciation. Only differential cost would be charged for reconnection. Depreciation value would be calculated on the basis of 10 years useful life of equipment.
Such consumers have also been allowed to pay 50 percent of additional security deposit as down payment before reconnection and balance 50 percent in instalments payable up to June 30, 2004 provided their sanctioned load remains unchanged. However, this relief will not be applicable to the industries where electricity is used as indigenous raw material such as Arc Furnace etc. Mark-up would be levied on payment of arrears in instalments as per prevalent bank rates.
The defaulting consumers not interested in getting reconnection have also been allowed to clear their outstanding arrears in instalments, not exceeding twelve in number.
If any industrial unit defaults in payment of current monthly bill or instalment amount, the connection of that unit will be disconnected without giving any notice to this effect, required under the normal practice and thereafter will not be entitled to re-avail this incentive package.
An undertaking subject to above conditions will be obtained before restoration of connection.
A rebate of 10 percent will also be given on minimum of 25 percent increase in the energy units (KWH) consumption of a billing month gained on existing load and not through extension in load as compared to the average consumption for three months of the previous year.
The average consumption will be calculated by taking the corresponding, preceding and succeeding months of the last year. The rebate will be admissible only on the variable charges based on increased consumption and is not to he given on fixed charges such as hydel surcharge, electricity duty, income tax and GST.
According to a press release, an incentive to 10 percent per annum will also be available to the consumers who will make advance payment, in addition to normal consumption bill issued manually or through computer of their electricity bills equivalent to average bill for a period of three months, adjustable against future monthly bills.
The scheme for installation of TOD meters has also been introduced for B-3 and B-4 connections, above incentive package. However, the concerned Disco chief executive officer will be final authority in all cases.