Agartala: More than half of the nearly 9.3 lakh electricity consumers in Tripura have not paid their bills for several years, according to an official from the state-run Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).
TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Bose revealed that only 4,32,045 consumers—mostly from urban areas—are currently paying their monthly electricity bills.
This accounts for just around 45% of the total registered users.
“This is a serious issue, especially in tribal-dominated areas such as Tulashikar, Hezamara, Mungiakami, and Jatanbari, where bill payment is extremely low despite repeated appeals,” Bose said.
In contrast, bill payment compliance in urban areas, including the capital Agartala, is considered relatively satisfactory.
As a result of widespread non-payment, outstanding electricity dues have surged to Rs. 475 crore across the state.
To address this, TSECL has begun actively reaching out to defaulters and, in some cases, has initiated disconnections of power supply to enforce payment.
“In addition to our collection efforts, we are also cracking down on illegal power connections. Over 10,000 instances of power theft through hooking were identified last year, leading to disconnections and fines amounting to Rs. 3 crore,” Bose added.
Looking ahead to the high-demand summer months of June, July, and August, TSECL plans to arrange for a 372 MW power supply to meet the state’s increased consumption needs.
