Shivam evades Rs 2.34 bn in power tariffs

Shivam Cement Ltd, based in Hetauda-16, has allegedly failed to pay Rs. 2.34 billion in electricity tariffs to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The said amount has accumulated over the past five years as Shivam failed to pay the charges of using NEA Hetauda distribution center’s dedicated feeder power line.

The NEA has repeatedly sent letters to the company to clear its dues but, apparently, it still has not been able to cut off Shivam’s power supply.

Meanwhile, the company has claimed that NEA Hetauda has been spreading propaganda against the public limited company. Lekhnath Aryal, company secretary and spokesperson, told the media that the company has been paying its electricity tariffs on time.

Further, the company claims that it has never requested for a dedicated feeder, nor has it ever received 24-hours uninterrupted power during load-shedding days. The industry ran on diesel back in those days, says the company.

The Electricity Tariff Assessment Commission had fixed the tariff for dedicated feeder users at about 67 percent higher than the regular rate in January 2016. The users would get continuous electricity even during load-shedding. Shivam argues that the rate fixed by the Tariff Assessment Commission does not apply to the company as it was never activated.