Consumers are bearing the brunt of the Ghaziabad electricity corporation’s delays, with around 5,000 residents receiving their electricity bills after the due date this month. Despite the delay being on the corporation’s part, a 1 per cent late payment penalty is being imposed on consumers, forcing many to make repeated visits to local electricity offices.
The issue has intensified since January 2024, when the billing system for consumers with 5 to 9 kW connections was shifted to MRI (Meter Reading Instrument)-based billing. Earlier, only 1,000-2,000 consumers received delayed bills each month, but the number has now increased significantly. Ironically, the system meant to reduce errors in billing has instead led to greater inconvenience.
Consumers allege that officials are refusing to waive the fine. Those with bills of Rs 5,000 are being charged an additional Rs 50, and those with bills up to Rs 10,000 are paying an extra Rs 100 as a penalty. Despite protests, their grievances remain unaddressed.
Manju, a resident of Vasundhara Sector-13, said her bill, dated November 17, was delivered on November 20. At the electricity office, she was asked to pay the penalty and warned of disconnection if she refused. Similarly, Rajkumar from Defence Colony, Bhopura, said he has been receiving bills after the due date for two consecutive months. Last month, he received his Rs 7,420 bill three days late, along with a 1 per cent penalty.
Officials claim the MRI system was introduced to curb discrepancies previously caused by manual meter reading. “There are strict orders to issue bills on time. With the introduction of smart meters in the future, billing issues will be eliminated, giving consumers complete relief,” said Pawan Agarwal, Executive Chief Engineer, Vidyut Nigam Zone-III.