THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: The State Government agencies the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), the Home Department and several prominent industries are among big consumers of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) who owe the power utility crores or rupees by way of electricity charge arrears.According to data, tabled by the Power Department in the Assembly recently, the KWA tops the list, owing a whopping Rs 199.78 crore as on June 30, 2011. Placed second is Travancore Cochin Chemicals (TCC) at Rs 80.05 crore followed by the Home Department, which owes Rs 76.29 crore.Private and public industries, which fall into the category of HT/EHT consumers of the KSEB, make up the rest of the list of companies that owe above Rs 10 crore.Steel Complex Ltd, Binani Zinc Ltd and the Agriculture Department owe the KSEB Rs 61.31 crore, Rs 55.84 crore and Rs 53.87 crore respectively. (In the case of the Agriculture Department, the cost of free supply of electricity to farmers have also been included).Hitech Electrothermics & Hydropower Ltd, Travancore Rayons Ltd, Indian Aluminium Company, Autokast, Indsil Electromelts Ltd, Silcal Metallurgic Ltd, Tecil Chemicals & Hydroelectric Power, Peekay Re-Rolling Mills and Sree Lakshmi Electrosmelters make up the list of top 15 defaulters.KSEB is owed Rs 3.25 crore by way of unpaid electricity bills for public lighting alone! The KSEB has been engaged in legal disputes with several of the top industrial defaulters for years.In the case of the KWA, the State Government had written off hundreds of crores of rupees a few years ago on condition that subsequent payments would be prompt. But that has not happened. ‘Express’ had reported recently that unpaid electricity bills have accumulated to he tune of Rs 1,209 crore, prompting the KSEB to have a serious re-look at many of the old, pending cases in the Supreme Court as well as the Kerala High Court.
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