Electricity meter readers' delay shocking in Telangana

Hyderabad: Delay in reading power meters is proving costly for consumers. Citizens complain that a delay of even a day or two in taking readings was resulting in a lower slab changing to a higher one due to which the electricity bill for the month is increasing.

Though the problem has been there for some time, the pinch is being felt now due to the recent tariff hikes in each slab, which came into effect from July 1.

For example, if the maximum tariff is Rs 3.60 per unit for consumption up to 200 units per month for domestic consumers Low Tension (LT) Category-I (B), a delay in meter reading will result in consumption crossing 200-unit mark, and consumers end up paying almost 100 per cent more.

The category and slab changes when the number of units consumed crosses 200. Under the LT Category- (B) (ii) domestic, the tariff is calculated at Rs 2.60 for the first 50 units, Rs 3.25 for 51 to 100 units, Rs 4.90 for 101-150 units, Rs 5.65 for 151-200 units and Rs 6.80 for 201-250 units.

A consumer’s monthly bill for up to 200 units consumed is Rs 616 excluding service charges, if it touches even 201 units for the month, due to delay of the meter reader, the bill jumps to Rs 806 excluding other services charges, said social activist Mr T.S. Gupta.

Mr M. Venugopal Rao said though there was a scope for consumers getting a lower bill in the following month if he or she was billed for 33 days instead of 30 or 31 days of the month – as the next month bill  would be for only 27 or 28 days consumption – it would be difficult for those who strictly go by monthly budgets.

“Why should the meter reading be delayed? There are cases when officials have not spared consumers and disconnected electricity lines for non-payment of bills for delay of even a day or two, then why should consumers bear the delay on part of meter readers and end up paying more power charges?” Mr Rao said.

TS Southern Discom chief general manager K. Hara Prasad said that they have received complaints. On the directions of the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission, have rectified the problem and introduced a new software as per which average consumption for 30 days or 31 days would be taken and bills issued accordingly.

System makes bill payment a hassle

Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company is following the old system of area-wise revenue collection at its electricity revenue collection offices. Power consumers complained that a resident of Sitaphalmandi cannot pay the electricity bill in person at other ERO apart from the one at Sitaphalmandi.

Consumers said while Discom had provided multiple options for payment of bills such as the online facility and through e-Seva, Mee Seva and APonline, it had failed to connect its EROs with a centralised software.

“Though multiple options are available to make power bill payments, several consumers prefer to pay at EROs. Why is the jurisdiction problem not being solved,” asked Mr P. Satish Kumar, a senior citizen.

Discom officials said the ERO system began with area-wise collection of revenue. “This system is continuing,” a senior official said and added people can pay through other channels available for them.