In an unprecedented occurrence of billing irregularity, Basant Sharma, a resident of Sector 122, Noida, was shocked to find an electricity bill exceeding Rs 4 crore covering a three-month period.
The bill, addressed to his wife Priyanka Sharma, encompassed usage from April 9 to July 18, amounting to Rs 4,02,31,842.31. Sharma, employed with the Railways, was away for official training in Shimla and discovered the exorbitant bill through an SMS notification last Thursday, with a payment deadline of July 24.
Alarmed by the staggering amount, Sharma promptly contacted the local power distribution company. They attributed the inflated bill to an erroneous meter reading and assured Sharma that they would rectify the mistake without delay. Sharma clarified that the house is currently rented out, and the tenant, who primarily worked from home, was the sole occupant during the billing period. The electricity usage was typical for basic household appliances.
Acknowledging the error, Shivam Tripathi, the executive engineer overseeing the area, emphasized the rarity of such incidents. Tripathi confirmed that the meter reading was clearly incorrect in this case and upon receiving the complaint, instructed staff to conduct a fresh reading and issue a corrected bill.
The initial bill showed a previous meter reading of 85,936 units on April 8, escalating to 90,144 units on July 18. After necessary deductions and adjustments, the revised bill is expected to significantly reduce the amount initially billed.
Basant Sharma expressed relief upon receiving assurances from the electricity department and anticipates a revised bill reflecting the accurate usage charges. He also noted the possibility of a Rs 2.8 lakh discount if payment is made within the stipulated timeframe.