`3.8L power bill shocks woman
Officials issue new bill of `134 after detecting error
THE ELECTRICAL CHARGE was `3,79,087 and `2,403 was the duty. Customer charges of `80 were also added bringing it to a total of `38,1571. The due date for payment was June 24.
AN ERROR WAS detected and a new bill for `134, less than the earlier duty amount, was generated. The power consumption was a mere 63 units as opposed to the earlier alarming figures.
OFFICIALS SUSPECT THE error occurred as the person who went to check the reading entered five digits instead of four digits. However, without automatic electronic check in the EBS i.e. energy billing system, it will be rectified.
D. Swarupa, a domestic power consumer and a resident of Srinivasa Nagar, Boduppal, was in for a rude shock when she received an electricity bill for the period May 10 to June 9. It was for a whopping `4 lakh (approx.) and apparently, 40,059 units of power had been consumed by her.
The electrical charge was `3,79,087 and `2,403 was the duty. Customer charges of `80 were also added bringing it to a total of `38,1571. The due date for payment was June 24 and the customer had paid the last bill on May 23, 2018.
The customer immediately notified the officials and sought an enquiry.
An error was detected and a new bill for `134, less than the earlier duty amount, was generated.
The power consumption was a mere 63 units as opposed to the earlier alarming figures.
Officials from the electricity board stated that it was impossible for a domestic customer to get a bill of `3 lakh and above.
A TSSPDCL official stated, “We suspect the error happened because the person who went to check the meter reading entered five digits instead of four digits. However, without automatic electronic check in the EBS i.e. energy billing system, it will be rectified when it appears online and can be paid online.”
The customer, who feared she would have to pay the bill to avoid disconnection, said that she was happy that the matter was sorted out promptly by the electricity board officials.