APEPDCL to introduce KYC to prevent fake SC, ST consumers

Srikakulam: AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has initiated steps to prevent fake consumers under the categories of SC and ST, who are availing benefits of free power.

APEPDCL covers power distribution in all five coastal districts from Srikakulam to West Godavari. The state government has introduced free power to domestic use up to 50 units consumption per month for consumers belonging to SC and STs in March 2013 during the stint of former chief minister of undivided AP, N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Later the free power consumption limit was enhanced to 75 units per month from June 2017 by AP government after the division of state. Now, the free power scheme is being enhanced to 100 units consumption for SC and STs from August this year by the government.

Though free power scheme is useful to consumers, number of allegations came to fore that the genuine beneficiaries are not availing this facility. In the name of SC/ST consumers, others are availing the benefits by showing rented houses and lease documents.

To prevent its misuse, APEPDCL has initiated steps to collect latest caste certificates from SC/ST consumers, aadhaar cards along with their mobile numbers. The company has set October 31 as deadline for consumers to submit these details under the know your customer (KYC) scheme.

“In Srikakulam district, 45,354 SC and 23,778 ST consumers are utilising free power facility and we are now collecting KYC details of beneficiaries,” senior accounts officer of APEPDCL Srikakulam, M Kami Naidu told to The Hans India. “We have received communication from our corporate office regarding the collection of KYC details,” said superintendent engineer (SE) of APEPDCL P Deva Vara Prasad to this newspaper.