Legacy electricity meters pose KYC challenges for consumers in Nurpur

The HPSEBL has initiated a doorstep KYC drive through its local electrical division to ease the process for domestic electricity consumers. However, the successors of original account holders, many of whom passed away 40-50 years ago, are finding it nearly impossible to complete the KYC due to the need for extensive documentation. These include death certificates of the deceased account holders and no objection certificates (NOCs) from all legal heirs.

In some cases, meters are registered in the names of grandfathers or great-grandfathers who passed away over 50 years ago. For their successors, procuring the required documents has become a daunting task. Local consumers, including Pradeep Sharma, Rakshpal Puri, and Trilok Singh, have called for a simplified process. They suggest allowing KYC completion through a self-declaration affidavit, which would place full responsibility on the applicant while eliminating the need for cumbersome documentation.

“Requiring an NOC from all legal heirs for a meter installed decades ago is impractical,” said a local consumer. Residents have also urged the state government to extend the December 31 deadline for completing the KYC process.

Executive Engineer Vikas Thakur of the Nurpur electrical division clarified that only one domestic meter per consumer would be eligible for government subsidies starting next month, and only after the KYC process is completed. He emphasised that an attested affidavit, including an NOC from all legal heirs, remains a mandatory requirement.

With the deadline fast approaching and the process proving to be a bottleneck for many, residents hope that authorities will intervene to make the procedure more user-friendly. For now, the KYC requirement continues to be a source of anxiety for those struggling to navigate its complexities.