Section 22 in Kerala Electricity Supply Code, 2005
22. Payment of electricity bill.
(1)The consumer shall pay the bill at the specified collection centre of the Licensee during the designated working hours of any working day as specified by the Licensee. The Licensee may also arrange any other facility for payment of bill for the convenience of the consumers.(2)The Licensee shall specify its accepted mode of payment of bills and publicise the same for the benefit of consumers.(3)The Licensee shall give seven (7) days time from the bill date for payment of the bill by the consumer. If the due date of payment of bill falls on public holidays, the next working day shall be treated as the due date.(4)The consumer shall pay the bill in full through any of the means specified by the Licensee and the Licensee shall issue a receipt to the consumer for payment as proof of payment.(5)In case of dishonour of the payment instruments of the consumer, the Licensee may initiate action for disconnection for non-payment. The Licensee shall have the right to resort to any other legal proceedings against the consumer in such cases.(6)If a consumer wishes to make advance payments towards electricity charges, he shall be allowed to do so by the Licensee and the amount so paid shall be adjusted accordingly against the bills raised subsequently on the consumer. The Licensee may allow incentive if such advance payment is made for 12 or more months. If, under this arrangement, the consumer allows to retain an amount equivalent to the security deposit with the Licensee on a sustained basis, the Licensee shall not insist such consumer to provide security deposit for electricity charges separately.(7)The Licensee may adjust payments made by the consumer in the following order of priority:(a)Interest on electricity duty arrears(b)Electricity duty arrears(c)Interest on electricity charge arrears(d)Electricity charge arrears(e)Current month dues(8)If the consumer informs the Licensee that he has difficulty in paying the arrear bill in full, the Licensee may offer an instalment payment option. Grant of instalment facility is without prejudice to the additional charges applicable to belated payment.
