(1) The consumer shall pay to the Licensee the full amount of the bill on or before the due date indicated therein, for which the Licensee shall issue a receipt.
(2) Subject to Regulation 45 (5), if the consumer fails to remit the bill amount on or before the due date, the Licensee shall be entitled to recover Late Payment Surcharge on the outstanding amount of the bill at the rates notified by the Commission in applicable Tariff Order.
(3) The Late Payment Surcharge shall be charged proportional to the number of days of delay in receiving payment from consumers by the distribution Licensees. Any adjustment on account of Late Payment Surcharge shall be done in the next bill.
(4) If the consumer fails to remit the amount within due date, the Licensee may disconnect the supply in accordance with the procedure specified in the Regulations.
Provided that the licensee may permit the consumer to remit the amount of the bill with Late Payment Surcharge as specified in the sub-regulation (2) above within an extended period of thirty days from the due date specified in the bill.
(5) Mode of Payment:-
(i) The consumer shall pay the amount of the bill in accordance with any mode of payment as notified by the Commission in its Tariff Order.
(ii) The Licensee shall make suitable arrangements so as to enable the consumer to make payment of bills by cheque or demand draft at any of the designated collection offices by post or courier, depositing them in the drop boxes to be maintained by the Licensee at designated locations, designated banks etc.
and through bank transfer, on-line payment, debit card, credit card and ‘anywhere payment system’ etc.
(6) The Licensee shall establish sufficient number of collection centers, including mobile collection centers, at suitable locations with necessary facilities and provide as far as possible, separate collection counters for senior citizens, women and differently abled persons.
(7) The Licensee shall make necessary arrangements for installing drop box accepting cheque machine.
(8) Where the due date indicated for payment of the bill falls on a Sunday or a public holiday, the payment shall be accepted on the next working day, without any late payment surcharge.