No excess power bills for domestic consumers: Transco CMD

Amaravathi(Andhra Pradesh),07 May(HS): Nagulapalli Srikant, Secretary Energy and AP Transco CMD said that there was no excess billing to domestic power consumers.

He said the billing was made on scientific basis depending on the power consumption during March and April months for the past five years and the bills were prepared on 50:50 basis to protect the interests of power consumers.

Giving clarification on the reports of excess billing by power Discoms, the CMD said that there was a drastic increase in power consumption during April this year due to lockdown.

He said while taking into consideration the domestic power consumption for the past five years during March and April  stands at 46 per cent and 54 per cent. Now the bills were prepared on 50:50 per cent as the meter readings were not taken during April month due to Covid 19 lockdown.  He said the April bills came under below slab as 4 per cent of power consumption during April was included in March month bill.

From the financial year the slab rates depends on monthly power consumption. As a result, the consumers got low bills than real consumption during April. He said there was no increase in bills as four per cent of April power consumption included in March bill as the slab rates fixed on 2018-19 power consumption.In addition the interest on security deposit of the power consumption was also exempted from April bill to benefit consumers.

Giving an example on the billing system, the Transco CMD said that if a person consumed 440 units for March and April like 202.40 in March and 237.60 units in April the bill was prepared based on 220 units per month to benefit the consumer.

The Transco CMD said a toll-free number was set up with No:1912 to redress the grievances of consumers on power billing. He said a special officer was appointed for each district to redress the billing grievances.