Common Billing and Metering Problems
Even though every effort is made to eliminate the billilng errors and timely issue of bills. In case consumer comes across any problem, he/she may contact the concerned Jr.Engr./Asstt.Engr. in-charge of the distribution centre or AE(Rev.)/(Comm.) in case of town D/C and City Division.
(a) Electricity bill of new consumer not received :
If the bill is not received even after 2 months of date of new connections, the concerned distribution centre/A.E. may be contacted and application should be given about non-receipt of first bill.
All Industrial power and pump consumers should get the bills after one month from date of connection.
(b) The electricity bill is received late :
In this case, please contact, the distribution centre/A.E. office for proper and timely delivery of bills.
(c) The consumer did not receive the bill or has lost the bill :
The consumer should contact the distribution centre/A.E. and collect A duplicate bill.
(d) Incorrect name or address printed on the bill :
If it is a minor typographical error, it would be corrected immediately. If the name of the consumer is completely different, a requisition should be submitted to the A.E./J.E./(I/C) of Distn. Centre.
(e) Meter reading appearing in the bill is not correct :
On receipt of complaint, the meter reading will be verified and corrections will be made wherever necessary.
(f) Even though, last bill is paid, the arrears amount and surcharge is appearing in the current bill.
While printing the electricity bill, payment details upto a certain date are only considered. Payment made after this date will therefore, not be reflected in the new bill. If the receipt of the earlier payment is presented in the distribution centre/A.E., necessary corrections would be made on the bill and the balance amount will be accepted.
(g) Electricity consumption had been normal but the units shown is either Zero or much lesser than normal bill.
This can be due to the meter or metering installation becoming defective. To avoid getting a bigger amended bill later on, bring this to the notice of the concerned J.E./A.E. who will get the meter reading/metering installation checked. Lower bill may also be due to wrong meter reading taken for billing due to human error although every care is taken to avoid such errors.
(h) Excess bill complaint :
Normally, high bills are due to higher consumption because of some new electrical equipments added or some festivals or special occasions like marriage or change of weather etc. An excess bill could also be due to incorrect reading. This can be verified by checking the reading of the meter. If not satisfied, please contact D/C office J.E./A.E. for checking/investigation.
(i) The premises was locked, still the bill shows units consumed :
Upon receiving the complaint the meter reading will be checked and the meter will be tested on the load. If meter is found working properly, it would mean that the meter had correctly recorded the consumption, and electric supply was drawn through the consumer’s meter. From the consumer’s main switch onwards the responsibility is of the consumer. The consumer has to pay for the units recorded.
(j) Defective meter – billing thereof :
In case the meter is found defective, average billing depending upon previous 3 months consumption shall be done, where monthly meter reading is done. Similarly, for bi-monthly and tri-monthly meter readings the average will be calculated accordingly.
During the period meter remains defective, meter hire charges will not be billed.
If the meter has become defective, from the date of installation, the same will be replaced and bills for the defective period would be worked out on pro-rata basis based on the average reading of the new meter for a period of six months.
If you found that meter is not functioning correctly report immediately so that checking and rectification can be carried out.
If the meter or metering installation is found tampered the billing of units will be assessed based on connected load and No. of working hours.
Consumer not to interfere with the supply mains/metering installations.
The meter board, meter boxes, cutouts etc. must on no account be handled or removed by any one other than the authorised person of CSEB.
The seals fixed on the meters, meter terminal cover, meter boxes etc. should on no account be broken/tampered. If the seals placed to protect the apparatus/meter are broken/tampered, the consumer shall render himself, liable to a penalty under rule 138 of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.
Theft of energy, interference with meters/metering installation and abetment are criminal offences as per I.E. Act, 1910 and punishable with imprisonment upto 3 years and/or fines which may extend upto Rs. 5000/- .