AP Govt to waive power surcharge for SC/ST consumers

Hyderabad, Oct 11 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Power Minister Mohammed Shabbir Ali today said the government had decided to waive electricity surcharge to the tune of Rs 34.05 crore on the arrears accumulated upto May 31 this year for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) domestic consumers in SC and ST Colonies and tribal habitations.

Addressing the press here, the Minister said the government had taken a decision in view of the difficulties faced by the SC and ST domestsic consumers.

Besides, the consumer charge arrears can be paid in 24 monthly instalments, he said and added the government had agreed to reimburse the revenue loss of Rs 34.05 crore to the DISCOM due to surcharge waiver.

To help SC, ST consumers with consumption of upto 100 units a month, the government will waive consumer charge arrears and surcharge provided the monthly bills were paid regularly from November one from which date the scheme would come into force. The DISCOMS will be compensated for the loss.

As many as 6.45 lakh domestic SC and ST consumers in SC and ST colonies and tribal habitations would be covered under this scheme.

The total consumer charge arrears payable by them Rs 146.85 crore. The surcharge amount was Rs 36.58 crore upto August this year and the total arrears being taken over by the government was Rs 183.43 crore, he said.

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