According to the UP Power Corporation Limited’s (UPPCL) data, more than 38 per cent consumers have not paid their electricity bill since the date of connection.
Out of a consumer base of 28.3 million, 10.9 million consumers have not paid their bills. About 96 per cent of these defaulters are from rural areas. As per UPPCL, the amount recoverable from these consumers is around Rs 680 billion. Significantly, of the over 10 million consumers who have never paid their electricity connection, the maximum 4.3 million– out of total 8.3 million are from PuVVNL discom. Purvanchal discom is followed by Madhyanchal discom comprising Lucknow, Devi Patan and Ayodhya zones where as many as 3.34 million consumers have not paid their bills since getting a connection. The Dakshinanchal discom follows next with over Rs 2.2 million consumers — out of 5.5 million– faltering on payment of their electricity bills. It is only Paschimanchal discom which has been performing well with just over 1 million such consumers. It has total 6.5 million consumers.