Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has so far realised Rs 2,600 crore from the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, which was launched in November for the recovery of outstanding electricity bills.

Of the total Rs 2,600 crore, Rs 180 crore has been paid by the power consumers accused of power thefts.

So far, around 27 lakh consumers have availed the benefit of the OTS scheme while the UPPCL has disposed of 54,000 cases of power theft.

The OTS scheme is being implemented in three phases – from November 8 to December 31 – and consumers have been given the facility of paying the outstanding bills in installments. Consumers facing power theft charges too have been allowed to pay their bills along with and fines in installments. Besides, consumers have been given 100 per cent waiver in penal interest and surcharge on the outstanding bills.

The OTS scheme covers all categories of consumers, including LMV-1 (domestic), LMV-2 (commercial), LMV-4B (private institutions), LMV-5 (private tube wells) and LMV-6 (industrial consumers).

Energy Minister AK Sharma said that the power consumers booked on charges of power theft and were liable to pay penalty, would have to register themselves by paying 10 per cent of the outstanding amount.

Such consumers are getting the facility to pay their bills in three installments.

The minister said the cases of the power consumers pending in courts and whose connections had been permanently disconnected were also being covered under the OTS scheme.

Power consumers against whom recovery certificates have been issued for the recovery of the pending bills as land revenue are also getting the benefit of the OTS scheme.

Sharma said that the government, with the policy of giving top priority to the interests of the consumers, had reintroduced the OTS scheme and all defaulter consumers should avail the benefit of the scheme and pay the outstanding bills.