THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: According to KSEB, even though there was no reduction in power consumption during the Covid period, the arrears increased due to non-payment of bills.

Many private companies do not pay the bills. Since the start of Covid pandemic, the two-year arrears of private and commercial enterprises are Rs 1,150 crore.

Before Covid, the arrears were Rs 1388 crore, of which Rs 528 crore was pending in the courts. The rest is arrears incurred by government agencies such as the Water Authority.

With this, the total arrears rose to Rs 2921 crore. According to the board's finance department, revenue fell due to government concessions on fixed charges.

Consumers are demanding a waiver on the bill for non-operational periods. KSEB is taking loans to address the shortfall in revenue. With this the debt liability increased from Rs 5200 crore to Rs 9054 crore. At present KSEB has a loss of Rs263 crore.

KSEB does not currently have a full time chairman. NS Pillai, Chairman and Director, Finance, retired on July 31. B. Ashok, Secretary, Department of Energy, is the Chairman.

Arrears

1150 crore: Private companies

698 crore: Domestic consumers

740 crore: Water Authority

253 crore: Other Government Institutions

80 crore: Central Institutions

2921 crore: Total arrears

Bill revenue

1.20 crore

Customers

13,521 crore

Income from customers

30%

Commerce and trade institutions

70%

Income from this commercial, business sector