High bills sparks outrage even as escoms allay fear

Jaideep.Shenoy
Mangaluru: The ‘unusually high’ electricity bill issued by the electricity supply companies (Escoms) in the state, particularly Bescom for May, has triggered an outrage.
The move by Escoms comes amidst a clear directive from the energy department to the electricity supply companies through a circular dated April 30 that they should issue bill for May based on actual reading of meters of consumers and not on average consumption on the basis of which bill was issued for April.
In earlier circulars dated April 3 and April 9, the department had directed Escoms to issue electricity bills to all HT and 40HP and above LT installation as per meter reading and on average basis for other categories of consumers. The department had also directed them to send bills to consumers wherever possible via email, WhatsApp, SMS and also permit online payments. Consumers were also given option to furnish self-reading for their bills.
S Sarkar, a Bescom consumer whose average monthly bill ranges between Rs 500-600, paid Rs 581 in March. The bill for April issued to him based on his previous monthly consumption was Rs 548. Incidentally bill for May has shown a near threefold increase at Rs 1,426. Sarkar expressed concern at being billed at a higher slab for power consumed which, he claimed would not have been the case if Bescom had given him a monthly bill.
Allaying these fears as unfounded, senior officer in Mescom said while it is true that meter reading will be based on last entry in March and consumption as on day the meter is read in May, the slabs will be adjusted accordingly. For instance, if total consumption for two months is 380 units, bill in May will be for first slab of 60 units (instead of 30 units), next slab of 140 units (instead of 70 units) and remaining 180 units at rates applicable for 100-200 units slab, he said.
The fixed charges too will be reflected accordingly in the bill based on the sanctioned load, the officer said. The amount that consumers have paid for April will be adjusted in bill for May and excess or deficit if any will be treated accordingly. Consumers may visit their nearest sub-divisional office to get excess amount charged, if any, rectified or send an email, said an official.