Lockdown: Bengal power utilities to bill consumers based on meter reading in year-ago month

Kolkata, May 12 () As officials of powerdistribution companies have not been able to visit homes toread electricity meters during the lockdown, the utilities inWest Bengal were allowed to send electricity bills for a monthbased on the consumption in the corresponding period lastyear, a minister said.

"After a deliberation on the issue, it was decided toallow the distribution companies to raise bills based on theconsumption of the year-ago month," state power ministerSobhandeb Chattopadhyay said.

A section of consumers claimed that this could lead toexcess billing.

"Once the actual reading will be done, the currentbill amount will be adjusted with subsequent demand. Consumersneed not to worry," the minister said.

For the energy consumed in April this year and billedin May, the billing will be made on the basis of powerconsumption of April, 2019, an official explained.

The minister urged consumers to pay their electricitybills in time. BSMBDC BDC