NEA raises 'load-shedding' hrs to 12, also plans to raise electricity tariff by 30 pc

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state monopoly on electricity supply, has increased the daily power cuts, called "load-shedding", by one hour to make it twelve hours.

NEA officials cited "technical problems" at the Bhotekoshi Power Plant behind the decision to increase the "load-shedding" hours.

The consumers were forced to bear 11 hours of daily power cuts before.

NEA had raised the load-shedding hours by half an hour to one hour without giving prior notification from the past some days.

Reports said that the power plant has already informed NEA that it will not be able to supply electricity for at least 15 days more.

However, NEA official expect to decrease the load-shedding hours from the first week of April month when the water level in the river will increase with the melting of the snows in the Himalayas.

However, unsubstantiated reports claimed that consumers have sometimes been without electricity for up to 16 hours daily. However, NEA denies this.

Meanwhile, NEA is preparing to increase the electricity tariff by 30 percent, it is learnt.

NEA has already put forward the proposal to increase the tariff at the Electricity SSTariff Determining Commission.

If the tariff increase, consumers will have to pay Rs 9 per unit of electricity from the existing Rs 6. nepalnews.com