Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Nov 5: The Mescom has given shock to its consumers to pay up pending electricity bills within 30 days. It stated that due to faulty electricity meter reading, the earlier bills given were not proper.

Consumers are frustrated and say, “Every month, electricity bill arrives and we pay promptly. If bill payment is delayed by two months, Mescom takes off the connection. Though electricity is not provided during rain and wind, bill is always the same. Now they are resorting to additional charges from consumers. This is not right.”

Mescom has sent bills to various consumers and the matter says, “As the electricity meter reading was faulty during July to September, the electricity bill is revised based on the average units you have consumed. So you need to pay the pending within 30 days. Some have received Rs 2000, while others have got Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 bill. The letter also says that the consumers can file objection within 15 days in writing.”

Consumers say, “Why the Mescom personnel who does the meter reading every month, did not inform about the meter fault since three months? Without advising to change the meter or the faulty reading the Mescom has suddenly sent additional bill. This is not right.”

One Mescom official said, “In many houses the electricity meters are faulty. We have written letter to higher authorities to supply new meters. But they have not yet supplied. So some people have to pay additional bill due to faulty meter reading for the past three months. We have sent letter in this regard. We have sent the bill on the basis of average units they have consumed earlier. This issue might prevail till we receive new meters. It is not possible to say that this problem is faced by everyone.”