KPDCL: Power Distribution Wing Cannot Waive Electricity Bills

Srinagar, Dec 14 – The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) clarified today that its power distribution wing cannot waive electricity bills or grant exemptions. According to Superintending Engineer Shabir Ahmad Khan, all billing is managed through a centralized online system, and payments are directly deposited into the government treasury.

Khan addressed concerns about electricity bills, which recently prompted a gathering of consumers at the Lok Adalat. Speaking with the Kashmir News Trust, he stated that power billing is fully digitized and transparent across all 67 subdivisions in Kashmir. KPDCL serves over 5.2 million consumers, and all consumer data is maintained in a publicly accessible online billing system.

"The distribution wing supplies electricity and generates bills strictly based on the power supplied. A proper billing mechanism is in place, and power connections are disconnected according to regulations when consumers fail to pay their bills," Khan explained.

He further clarified that KPDCL does not produce its own electricity. "The government purchases power and distributes it through our system. We only handle the distribution, billing, and payment collection from consumers. The collected revenue is not ours; it is directly deposited into the government treasury," he said.

Because the department does not retain the collected revenue, KPDCL lacks the authority to grant exemptions. "Only the government has the power to announce waivers or exemptions related to electricity bills," Khan stated.