Dhangadi, November 21

Consumers have been compelled to pay fines even though electricity meter reading personnel from Nepal Electricity Authority did not read the meters on time at Dhangadi sub-metropolis in Kailali.

Consumers said staffers from Nepal Electricity Authority, Dhangadi distribution centre had not read meters for the last three months. The locals said they were compelled to pay fine due to negligence of the authority concerned.

Local Mahesh Neupane said meter reading had not been done in the past three months at Jugeda of Dhangadi sub-metropolis. “But we are compelled to pay the fine amount even though the authority concerned failed to do its task,” he added. As many as 500 households in the area have been hit.

Meter reading has not taken place though it ought to have been done every month in the sub-metropolis. The same problem persists in several areas of the sub-metropolis.

According to Nepal Electricity Authority Dhangadi Distribution Centre, meters could not be read  due to lack of staff. “Complaints regarding meter reading are genuine,” said Surendra Chaudhary, chief at the centre.

He said just 35 staffers in the centre were not able to read the meters of more than 57,000 consumers.