Kathmandu, 9 Oct: Although the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has made online facilities available for electricity bill payments, 73 percent of its customers still pay their bills physically at payment counters.
Despite the availability of various digital platforms, the authority reportedly spends Rs. 597.9 million annually on operating bill collection counters. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has shared this information and urged an immediate change in the situation.
According to Minister Shrestha, there are currently 655 electricity bill collection counters operating under the branch offices of 120 NEA distribution centres. The annual cost of operating these counters alone is approximately Rs. 590.7 million, amounting to around Rs. 50 million per month.
Minister Shrestha said digital payments would save citizens time and travel expenses while improving financial transparency and security by reducing cash transactions. He also said that digital payments would help reduce operating costs and allow the staff currently assigned to the counters to be deployed in other areas.
“Reducing cash transactions increases financial transparency and security. In addition, the resources and human resources used to operate payment counters can be utilised more effectively for other essential customer services,” Minister Shrestha said.
Government Offices to Pay Electricity Bills Online
Government offices will now be able to pay their electricity bills through digital platforms.
The Nepal Electricity Authority and the Office of the Financial Comptroller General have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement an electronic payment system for electricity consumed by government agencies.
According to the authority, electricity bill payments by government offices will be made electronically following the integration of the Office of the Financial Comptroller General’s Integrated Public Financial Management Service with the NEA’s institutional customer payment system.
The authority said the arrangement would improve financial and information system coordination among government agencies, the Office of the Financial Comptroller General and the NEA. It is also expected to promote the digital economy and encourage cashless and cheque-free transactions.
NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said the new arrangement would eliminate the need for government agencies to use cash or cheques to pay electricity bills, making the process easier, safer and more transparent.
“This arrangement will make a significant contribution to ensuring the timely payment of electricity bills, reducing outstanding dues and late payment charges, and making the bill collection process more effective,” Executive Director Shrestha said.
He added that the system would also make payment management more organised by ensuring the timely availability of information regarding electricity payment obligations of government agencies.
