Post-lockdown, inflated power bills continue to haunt consumers

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 22

The relief measures announced by the Punjab Government for the people during the two month Covid-19 lockdown, particularly with regard to deferment of electricity bills, waiver of late payment charges and no disconnection for non-payment, are taking a heavy toll post-lockdown as some consumers are receiving inflated/hefty bills, adding to their financial distress caused by the pandemic.

Citing examples of inflated and incorrect electricity bills, affected consumers claim that one bill raised by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in July for Rs92,000 was reduced to just Rs25,000 after correction and proper adjustment. In many other cases consumers received bills for double or triple the amount than what was actually payable on the basis of meter reading.

Domestic consumers, who are most hit by such Code-N or Code-O electricity bills, raised without meter reading and bills based on latest readings, respectively, say they have to visit power utility offices for getting their bills corrected, which defeats the purpose of restrictions (social distancing) imposed due to the pandemic.

Another consumer in Model Town having two power connections in domestic category said he had paid both the bills raised by the PSPCL on the basis of average consumption in April 2020, but arrears were added to the bills received by him in June. “When I approached the staff of the subdivision concerned, bills were corrected, but the amount adjusted was less than the amount paid by me against bills for April,” he added.

Consumers having commercial connections (Non-residential supply –NRS) say they were finding it difficult to pay bills raised on the basis of average consumption.

“During the lockdown period all shops, showrooms and commercial establishments were closed. Even now, many of them are not fully functional. But, bills raised on the basis of average consumption of corresponding period last year when business was normal are on a higher side,” said a shopkeeper in Ghumar Mandi.

PSPCL officials, however, claimed that Code-N bills were sent to consumers only during the complete lockdown period. Now, in most cases, bills were being prepared on the basis of actual meter reading after adjustment of the amount already paid by consumers, they added. There could be discrepancies in some cases, but employees had been asked to amend bills on presentation to the satisfaction of consumers, they said.