Patna, Nov. 22: Residents are yet to avail the benefit of paying their power bill dues in installments owing to failure by Pesu to follow the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission’s order.

According to Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (Berc) order dated November 10, 2014, it allowed petitions of both distribution companies — North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd — seeking permission to realise their energy dues from consumers in installments.

In its order, the commission had said that consumers having energy dues between Rs 500 and Rs 50,000 could avail the benefits for paying in six installments.

Consumers, who visited Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu’s) office to avail the facility, had to face disappointment owing to the undertaking’s failure to implement the commission’s order.

“Pesu could not implement the order to accept the energy bill in installments, as we (Pesu) have not got official communication from headquarters to comply with the order,” a Pesu official said.

He added: “Consumers would be able to avail the facility after Pesu receives an order in this regard.”

Consumers are miffed over the difficulty. “I had come to pay my energy dues as my connection had been snapped owing to non-payment of bill. I thought I would get rid of my problem but officials said I will have to come to the office next time,” said Ram Swarup Singh, a resident of Muzaffarpur, who owe dues of Rs 10,000.

According to companies’ proposal submitted in September, they were supposed to realise 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 installments from commercial and industrial users, who owe more than Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively.

The commission said Kutir Jyoti Yojana consumers in rural and urban areas could avail the facility if they have energy dues of up to Rs 500, while consumers of rural and urban areas having energy dues of Rs 3000 and Rs 10,000, respectively would be able to avail benefit of installments.

Small-scale industrial users of category I and II with dues of Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively, could also avail the benefit, the order said, making it clear that all consumers — whether they have disconnected connection or running a connection — would have to deposit dues in six installments.