Bhubaneswar: A total of Rs 457.49 crore in fines have been collected by DISCOMs in Odisha over the past five years, as informed by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who also holds the Energy Department portfolio, in the state assembly on Wednesday.
In a written response to a question by Brahmagiri MLA Upasna Mohapatra, Singh Deo revealed that over 870,458 enforcement activities were conducted by DISCOMs to tackle unauthorized use of electricity, leading to the imposition of the Rs 457.49 crore penalty in the last five years.
The Energy Minister also provided district-wise data, outlining the amount of fines collected in each region. The detailed list is included below:
Singh Deo further elaborated that the fines are levied on consumers in accordance with the Electricity Act, 2003, and the OERC Distribution Code, 2019, for any irregularities. The revenue generated from these fines is incorporated into the annual revenue of the DISCOMs.
Moreover, he clarified that the collected fines contribute to the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR), ultimately benefiting consumers.
The Energy Minister also noted that, as part of the fine collection process, Enforcement Officers issue a fine notice to consumers based on the findings in the Physical Verification Report.
