73% of Consumers Still Pay Electricity Bills at Counters, Minister Calls for Digital Shift

Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has called on citizens to increasingly use digital platforms to pay their electricity bills, highlighting the continued dependence on physical payment counters despite the growing availability of digital services. According to Minister Shrestha, around 73% of consumers still visit counters to settle their electricity bills, a trend he said should be gradually changed through greater public awareness and digital adoption. The minister stated that digital payments can save consumers’ time and transportation expenses while reducing cash transactions and enhancing financial transparency and security. He further noted that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) operates 655 bill collection counters under 129 distribution centers, with their operation costing approximately Rs 59.79 crore annually, or nearly Rs 5 crore per month. He said shifting more consumers to digital payment platforms could reduce these costs and allow the resources and manpower currently engaged in counter operations to be utilized for other customer services. Shrestha also urged citizens to help family members, particularly senior citizens and those unfamiliar with digital technology, learn to make electricity payments digitally.