Nepal Electricity Authority has decided to provide partial autonomy to 18 distribution centres all over the country to make them more efficient. The decision was taken by the NEA board of directors chaired by Minister for Water Resources, Dipak Gyawali, on Monday. The decision will come into effect on 13 February. The new regulation provides full autonomy to the centres allowing for commercial activities for self-sufficiency. It has also introduced a provision of reward and punishment to centres based on performance. The centres can share profits by giving consumers rebates. The centres covered are: Kathmandu centre, East Kathmandu, West Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Pulchok, Thimi, North Kathmandu, Birganj, Bharatpur, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Hetauda, Dharan, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Butwal and Nepalganj. Together, they cover 60 percent of NEA consumers and represent 70 percent of Nepal's electricity use.