Energy minister urges digital payment of electricity tariffs

KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, has appealed to the public to pay electricity tariffs through digital channels.

Shrestha said that even in the digital age, some 73% of citizens still go to collection counters in person to make payments and called for collective action to change the situation. He added that the support of conscious citizens is needed to increase uptake of digital payments.

The minister highlighted several benefits of switching to digital transactions, saying they save time and travel costs, reduce cash handling, and improve financial transparency and security. He noted that the resources and manpower currently devoted to operating collection counters could be redirected to other essential customer services.

According to Shrestha, the annual cost of operating revenue collection counters for customers who pay in person is about Rs 597.9 million. There are currently 655 revenue collection counters across the Nepal Electricity Authority’s 129 distribution centre branches.

“Digital payments save citizens’ time and travel expenses. Reducing cash transactions increases financial transparency and security,” Shrestha said.

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