PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
Complaints are emerging continuously about consumers being sent inflated electricity bills without meter readings. The latest case concerns the staff quarters of the Government B D Pandey District Hospital in Mallital, where the nursing staff have accused the Electricity Distribution Division, Nainital of sending bills worth thousands of rupees sans actual meter readings.
Venting anger over the sudden, staggering spike in the bill amounts, a senior nursing officer Meenakshi, who lives in the staff quarters, said that although she had paid her last electricity bill on April 20, she received a bill of about Rs 17,000 in July. “We are sure that the bill amounts are being fixed randomly. We have not seen anyone come to take the meter reading after April,” she said.
Echoing her grievance, another nursing officer Urmila Das said that although she had paid the last bill on March 18, a bill worth about Rs 20,000 was issued this month. “When I complained, the answer I received stunned me. The employees do not come to take readings because there are dogs in the house,” she said.
The consumers say that if meter readings cannot be taken for any reason, UPCL should find an alternative solution. “Making a large lump sum payment strains household budgets,” said a hospital staffer.
When queried on this matter, the SDO, Electricity Distribution Division, Nainital, Priyank Pandey said that a complaint has been received from the staff quarters. “It is being investigated, and if any errors are found, they will be resolved as per the rules,” he assured.He further stated that their employees have been bitten by dogs several times while taking readings in homes. “So they are unwilling to go and check readings,” he added.
