The Coimbatore Consumer Voice Forum has requested the TNEB to clarify the confusion regarding the payment of EB bills for the month of April and May. A clarification has been issued by TANGEDCO for payment of EB bills.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Consumer Voice Forum has requested the TNEB to clarify the confusion regarding the payment of EB bills for the month of April and May. A clarification has been issued by TANGEDCO for payment of EB bills.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown TANGEDCO had extended time for bill payments until May 21 for all residential and business accounts.
As readings for the months of April and May were not taken by the EB workers, consumers were advised to pay the same amount that they paid in the previous payment cycle.
However, consumers expressed concern over this model because ever since the lockdown came into place most of the businesses and shops were remained closed. Due to this electricity consumption had reduced substantially, in this scenario consumers had expressed concern over paying the same amount, as paid in previous month.
Similarly, many people living in rented houses have travelled back to their native places and their electricity consumption also remains negligible.
While, the TANGEDO announced that all factories and businesses which have been shut down for the past month should pay the same amount that they paid in the previous billing cycle, the EB had recently suggested that the consumers could take a note of the reading and send it to the EB, which can in turn help to calculate the usage and the bill payment, can be done accordingly.
However in Coimbatore, this system has not been implemented. Authorities have allegedly been insisting consumers pay the previous payment amount.
In this state homes with low tension electric connection receive 100 free units each month. Calculation of the free units also is regarded to be causing another confusion.
The Consumer Voice Forum, Secretary Logu has therefore requested TANGEDCO to go by the announcement of consumers taking the reading and sending it to the EB which can calculate the cost for the consumer. Further, the confusion in the bill payment can lead to issues between house owners and tenants.
Following this the TANGEDO has issued a clarification regarding the payment of bills. The COVID-19 lockdown has been in place since March 24 and has been extended upto May 17.
In this connection, as per the direction of the Chief Minister, Minister for Electricity and Prohibition, Go TN held a review meeting in TANGEDCO on 05.05.2020 and issued the following instructions:
a) LT Industrial and Commercial consumers who have been billed under Previous Month Billing (PMC) can make payment up to May 22 based on PMC or by way of revised bill for actual consumption by furnishing the self assessment reading.
b) In case of LT domestic consumers wherever billing is made under PMC due to COVID-19, the next reading will be taken only on the next due date. Hence the billing is to be made for two bi-monthly readings. The payment made for the PMC will be adjusted after ascertaining the reading during the next assessment of the respective CC bills.
c) Extension of time for payment of all LT and LTCT consumers whose due dates fall between March 25 and May 17, shall be granted up to May 22, without levy of BPSC and DC-RC fees.
