The Power System Operation Corporation Limited has directed NEEPCO, NTPC, NHPC and ONGC to reduce electricity sale to Meghalaya by 25 per cent of the contract quantum from August 7.
The order was issued as the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) failed to clear the outstanding power dues amounting to Rs 685.74 crore to these power generating companies.
The step was taken as per provisions of the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules 2022 which came into force from August 6.
“In compliance of Rule 7 of LPSC rule 2022, the short term open access for sale and purchase of electricity for MePDCL (Meghalaya Discom) has been regulated entirely with effect from delivery date 07th August 2022,” a letter from the North Eastern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NERLDC) Executive Director, Nabarun Roy to all the power generation companies said.
The NERLDC also wrote to the Director (Distribution), MeECL today and said that as per data available in the PRAAPTI portal the outstanding is overdue on August 5.
It may be mentioned that as per the rules, Late Payment Surcharge are payable on the payment outstanding after the due date at the base rate of Late Payment Surcharge applicable for the period for the first month of default.
The rate of Late Payment Surcharge for the successive months of default shall increase by 0.5 per cent for every month of delay provided that the Late Payment Surcharge shall not be more than 3 per cent higher than the base rate at anytime. The rate will not be higher than the rate of Late Payment Surcharge specified in the agreement, if any, the rules said.
