Mangaluru: Outstanding electricity dues owed by grama panchayats to Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) have crossed Rs 251 crore, raising concerns about the financial health of the utility and its ability to maintain uninterrupted services. Officials revealed that as of February 28, 2026, a total of Rs 251.39 crore remains unpaid, with a significant portion attributed to essential public services such as drinking water supply and street lighting.

Addressing reporters, MESCOM chairman Harish Kumar stated that Rs 218.84 crore of the pending dues are linked to electricity consumption for drinking water projects, while Rs 32.55 crore pertains to street lighting. These services, though critical for rural infrastructure and public welfare, have increasingly become a financial burden due to delayed payments by local governing bodies.

Additional liabilities from urban bodies and departments

The financial strain on MESCOM is not limited to rural administrations. Kumar highlighted that municipalities and city corporations collectively owe Rs 261.54 crore. In addition, various government departments, including irrigation and others, have accumulated dues amounting to Rs 517.53 crore.

These mounting arrears, totalling over Rs 1,000 crore across categories, pose a serious challenge to the utility’s operational sustainability. Officials indicated that delays in payments affect routine maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and emergency response capabilities, especially during high-demand seasons.

Staffing shortages worsen operational challenges

Apart from financial concerns, MESCOM is grappling with a significant shortage of technical staff. Out of 9,248 sanctioned lineman posts across its service areas—covering Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga districts—only 5,283 positions are currently filled. This leaves nearly 4,000 vacancies, placing additional pressure on existing staff.

To address the gap, recruitment of 465 linemen is currently under way. However, Kumar noted that frequent transfers continue to disrupt workforce stability, with around 400 personnel expected to be shifted. This cycle of recruitment and transfer has made it difficult to maintain a consistent and experienced workforce in key regions.

Regional imbalance in recruitment

A notable concern flagged by the chairman is the declining number of candidates from coastal districts such as Mangaluru and Udupi applying for lineman positions. Instead, a majority of recruits are coming from other districts. While this helps fill vacancies in the short term, many of these recruits later seek transfers closer to their home regions, leading to recurring shortages in coastal areas.

This trend has created operational inefficiencies, as newly recruited staff require time to adapt to local conditions, particularly in coastal zones that are prone to heavy rainfall and unique terrain-related challenges.

Preparations for monsoon emergencies

With the monsoon season approaching, MESCOM has initiated contingency measures to ensure prompt response to power disruptions caused by natural calamities. The utility plans to deploy additional temporary staff to support its existing workforce during emergencies.

Each assistant executive engineer will supervise a dedicated team of five members tasked with assisting linemen in restoration work. These teams will be strategically positioned to respond quickly to incidents such as fallen power lines, transformer failures, and weather-related outages.

Officials believe that this proactive approach will help minimise downtime and ensure faster restoration of electricity services, particularly in vulnerable areas.

Need for timely payments and systemic reforms

Experts suggest that addressing the issue of delayed payments requires coordinated efforts between local bodies, state authorities, and the power utility. Ensuring timely release of funds to grama panchayats and enforcing accountability mechanisms could significantly reduce outstanding dues.

Additionally, long-term solutions such as decentralised billing systems, better financial planning at the local body level, and incentives for timely payments may help improve the situation.

Conclusion

The rising dues owed to MESCOM underscore a broader challenge faced by public utilities in balancing service delivery with financial sustainability. Coupled with staffing shortages and operational hurdles, the situation calls for urgent attention from policymakers and stakeholders.

Unless corrective measures are implemented, the dual burden of unpaid dues and manpower constraints could impact the reliability of electricity supply across the region. MESCOM’s efforts to strengthen emergency response and recruit additional staff offer some relief, but sustainable solutions will depend on improved financial discipline and administrative coordination.