Resentment is brewing among industrial consumers in the MSME sector after they were forced to shell out hefty power bills, despite an assurance that they would be given a three-month waiver of fixed/minimum demand charges. On waiver of three months’ tariff, the distribution company is first insisting on payment of bills and asking the MSME units to claim the reimbursement later, it is learnt. We are asked to pay monthly bills first and later claim reimbursement from the government,” A.K. He said that of the 6,000 MSME units, many are facing a threat of collapse due to heavy losses suffered during the lockdown. “The tariff being paid by the industrial users is very high, thereby killing off many of the units,” said O. Naresh Kumar, director of A.P.

Source: The Hindu June 21, 2020 17:46 UTC