By Firstdespatch Desk May 12, 2025
Agartala, May 12 (FD) Over half of the total consumers of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) have failed to pay their electricity bills for several years, leading to a massive accumulation of dues worth ₹475 crore, a senior official confirmed on Monday.
According to TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Bose, of the state’s 9,27,838 registered power consumers, only 4,32,045—mainly from urban areas like Agartala—are regularly paying their electricity bills. This accounts for roughly 45% of total consumers, though the rate was earlier around 40%.
“Bill payment is satisfactory in urban zones, but the situation is alarming in tribal-dominated regions such as Tulashikar, Hezamara, Mungiakami, and Jatanbari, where many residents continue to ignore repeated payment appeals,” Bose told PTI.
The TSECL has begun initiating measures to improve bill collection, including field visits, disconnection of defaulters, and awareness campaigns. “We have started disconnecting connections where payments remain long overdue,” Bose said.
To address power theft through illegal hooking of main power lines, TSECL cracked down last year, disconnecting over 10,000 illegal connections and collecting fines amounting to ₹3 crore. “Hooking lines are mostly concentrated in tribal areas, and we are taking legal steps to prevent this malpractice,” he added.
Meanwhile, the power utility is preparing to meet the rising electricity demand during the peak summer months of June, July, and August by arranging a supply of 372 MW to ensure stability in the northeastern state.
TSECL has reiterated its commitment to streamlining operations and improving revenue recovery to sustain reliable power services across the state. FD SB