KSEBOA - KSEB Officers' Association

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After a probe threw up the possibility of the BSES using faulty billing software, a red-faced Delhi government is now planning to ask the discoms to install parellel meters in households that have complained of inflated bills. After six months, if it is seen that the reading of the parellel meter is less than that of the BSES meter, the balance amount will have to be refunded. A formal order on this is expected soon, highly-placed sources in Delhi government said.

The Delhi government and the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) have together received 1,500-odd complaints of inflated bills. Sources, however, reiterated that in order to seek a refund, consumers should have lodged a complaint through the ``right channels''.

``We are very clear that if there has indeed been some irregularity in the drawing up of bills, hapless consumers need not be penalized, least of all those browbeaten by the discoms into paying up. But for relief to be granted, the person needs to have given a formal complaint. S/He cannot complain after the process is initiated and ask for a discount,'' said the official.

The decision to install parallel meters was taken in the wake of an investigation report by the standardization, testing and quality certification unit of the department of IT, Union ministry of communication, about discrepancies in the BSES billing software. The probe — initiated last month after public outrage over inflated bills peaked — found that the mandatory meter reading data was missing in a large number of bills. The investigators took a sample of 300 bills in which it was found that the amount of unexplained spurt in meter readings ranged from 50-6,000% compared to bills over the same period last year.

The issue of inflated power bills has caused some embarassment to the government and caused some heads to roll but no concrete redemption measures have been taken so far. Sources say there have been numerous complaints from MLAs too and a section of the Congress is perpetrating the view that the shock defeat for the party in the two assembly by-elections of Okhla and Dwarka was due to power woes.


Source - Times of India