NEA to waive fines as COVID-19 halts meter reading

Kathmandu / Sept 29: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided not to charge fines to its customers as the authority has been unable to resume the meter reading service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NEA took the decision after a direction from Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barshaman Pun.

Minister Pun had directed the acting Executive Director Lekhnath Koirala of NEA to make arrangements for waiving the fines for the customers as the meter reading service remains halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, NEA has failed to carry out the meter reading service for most of its customers.

After some customers complained that they were being made to pay fines, Minister Pun urged NEA to either return the money or add that amount to the bill of the next month. He also directed NEA to resume the meter reading service at the earliest.