Patna, Sept. 20: Power defaulters now have a chance to clear their dues in instalments.

North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd have also submitted a proposal to the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission to realise dues from consumers in instalments. The commission is the regulatory body entrusted with the job of fixing electricity tariff rate for all kinds of consumers, besides passing several orders with regard to regulation of the power sector.

The companies would realise the dues of consumers who owe more than Rs 5,000 in rural areas and Rs 25,000 in urban areas. The companies would also realise dues in instalments from commercial and industrial users who owe more than Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively.

“We have submitted a proposal to the commission to realise energy dues in instalments. The commission would hear the distribution companies’ application jointly on September 26,” a power official told The Telegraph.

Domestic consumers, representatives of industry bodies such as Bihar Industries Association, Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries and others can express their opinion in the form of suggestions, objections and comments during proceedings in an open court at Vidyut Bhavan around 11am.

According to the proposal, consumers who owe dues have to deposit 25 per cent of the amount while the remaining would have to be given in five equal instalments. The distribution companies would restore the connection of those who pay up the dues in instalments, sources said.

Earlier, the energy department had come out with a one-time settlement scheme. The scheme got the state cabinet’s nod on February 11, 2014, that talked of full or partial waiver of delayed payment surcharge for consumers whose connections have been snapped for non-payment of outstanding bills. Delayed payment surcharge is an interest component levied on the principal outstanding amount of electricity dues of consumers.

According to the scheme, cent per cent delayed payment surcharge amount would be waived off for consumers in rural areas, for beneficiaries of Kutir Jyoti Yojana and BPL families, while 75 per cent would be waived for urban areas and 50 per cent for industrial users.

A Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited official put the dues of both the distribution companies at approximately Rs 6,000 crore till December 2013. Of Rs 6,000 crore, the delayed payment surcharge amount alone constitutes around Rs 1,500 crore.