The cat is finally out of the bag. Tenaga Nasional Berhad apparently has a list of influential customers, both in the public and private sectors, who delayed or failed to pay their electricity bills .

The biggest culprits of all seems to be Perwaja, a white elephant which suffered losses amounting to billions of ringgit under its previous management. Nevertheless, it should not drag its feet in its electrical bill arrears as other utility companies in similar positions have managed to work out an arrangement with TNB to settle their outstanding monies.

While these recalcitrant organisations continue to have it easy, TNB seems to be struggling with its credit control procedures and is unable to ensure that its major clients pay their bills on time.

TNB is a private entity and is responsible to its shareholders to collect all bills that are due to it in order to expand its business as well as to pay staff salaries and dividends to those who have invested in it.

It would be prudent if they can treat their major clients who delay in paying their electricity bills the same way they treat their ordinary customers, that is by disconnecting supply once their deadline has expired.

It is understandable if private sector companies are unable to pay their bills dues to poor business but for government agencies not to do so show that the persons in charge are either sleeping on the job or are an incompetent lot who do not know how to prioritise heir work.

TNB should not act like a charity organisations that give out free electricity. It should not allow its major clients to delay paying their bills by the use of political influence.

It should instead wield the 'big stick' to ensure that errant customers understand that there is no such tings as a free lunch in this world. If the average TNB customer can have their electrical connection cut off due to the non-payment of their bill, then the same treatment should be accorded to the major players. Nothing more and nothing less.

This way, TNB would be able to improve its revenue collection which in turn would mean better public service for all.