Min: 64.7L electricity users got 656cr security deposit notice
Bhubaneswar: The power distribution companies issued notices to 64.7 lakh consumers in the state to pay the additional security deposits (ASD) of Rs 656 crore in the financial year 2025-26, deputy chief minister KV Singh Deo said in a written reply to the state assembly here on Wednesday. Many organisations, especially consumer associations and people protested the collection of ASD by the power distribution companies (Discoms).
TPNODL, a discom operating in the northern part of Odisha, issued ASD notices to 14.5 lakh consumers to collect Rs 107 crore, while TPWODL served notices to 13.91 lakh consumers to collect Rs 165.9 crore. Similarly, 19.86 lakh electricity consumers received ASD notices from TPCODL to collect Rs 284.8 crore. TPSODL, which serves south Odisha, served notices to 16.44 lakh consumers to collect Rs 98.2 crore as ASD, he said.
He said power discoms are raising the demand for ASD after reviewing the adequacy of the security deposit collected from consumers based on average consumption of the preceding financial year, which is done in accordance with Regulations 53 and 54 of the OERC Distribution (Conditions of Supply) Code, 2019.
“The consumers are served a notice of 30 days before payment is enforced. Electricity disconnection for non-payment of ASD after the stipulated notice period is done by the Discoms as per section 56 of the Code,” said Singh Deo, who is also the energy minister.
He said the relevant provisions of the supply code are strictly adhered to while making ASD calculations, adjustments and refunds to ensure transparency and rule out arbitrary demands.
TPNODL, a discom operating in the northern part of Odisha, issued ASD notices to 14.5 lakh consumers to collect Rs 107 crore, while TPWODL served notices to 13.91 lakh consumers to collect Rs 165.9 crore. Similarly, 19.86 lakh electricity consumers received ASD notices from TPCODL to collect Rs 284.8 crore. TPSODL, which serves south Odisha, served notices to 16.44 lakh consumers to collect Rs 98.2 crore as ASD, he said.
He said power discoms are raising the demand for ASD after reviewing the adequacy of the security deposit collected from consumers based on average consumption of the preceding financial year, which is done in accordance with Regulations 53 and 54 of the OERC Distribution (Conditions of Supply) Code, 2019.
“The consumers are served a notice of 30 days before payment is enforced. Electricity disconnection for non-payment of ASD after the stipulated notice period is done by the Discoms as per section 56 of the Code,” said Singh Deo, who is also the energy minister.
He said the relevant provisions of the supply code are strictly adhered to while making ASD calculations, adjustments and refunds to ensure transparency and rule out arbitrary demands.
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