Kathmandu, Nov. 11 -- The Nepal Electricity Authority's delinquent industrial customers have begun appearing at its distribution centres to make partial payments a week after the utility amended its billing bylaws allowing them to clear their power bills in instalments.

This marks the end of a months-long row between the utility and industrialists over their years-old debts worth Rs11 billion.

Three factories located in the Biratnagar industrial corridor - Raghupati Jute Mills, Arihant Polypacks and Arihant Multi Fibres, all subsidiaries of the Golchha Organisation - which owe a combined Rs210 million in unpaid energy bills have applied at the Biratnagar Distribution Centre for the instalment facility.

According to power utility offici...