In yet another occurrence of a purported meter malfunction in Karnataka, the possessor of a compact one-room apartment finds themselves faced with an electricity bill amounting to a staggering Rs 4 lakh.
In a surprising turn of events, a couple from Indira Nagar, Ballari found themselves astounded when they received an electricity bill of Rs 4,26,852 for the month of June, causing a shock to the couple.
Expressing their dismay, Mahesh stated, “Normally, our monthly electricity bill falls within the range of Rs 700 to Rs 1,000. However, on this occasion, we have been presented with an excessively high sum. We promptly filed a complaint regarding this matter with the Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM).”
Upon being requested to settle his electricity bill online, the individual inspected his power usage details on the web, only to discover a staggering amount of Rs 4 lakh displayed. Swiftly reporting the issue, the man filed a complaint, prompting the arrival of GESCOM staff members to verify the meter reading. Subsequently, it was uncovered that the erroneous bill was a consequence of a technical malfunction in the meter. Consequently, the individual was instructed to remit Rs 885 and a revised bill was issued to him.
Veeramma, Mahesh’s spouse, conveyed, “Our household consists of a refrigerator and three fans. During the winter season, our power consumption decreases. Over the past few months, our electricity bill has consistently ranged between Rs. 700 and Rs. 1,000. However, upon receiving the latest bill, we promptly reduced the usage of fans and the refrigerator, and we now operate the washing machine only when necessary.”
In a separate incident, a 90-year-old woman residing in a small hut with only two LED bulbs was startled when she received an electricity bill amounting to Rs. 1 lakh. Normally, her monthly bill ranged around Rs. 70 or 80, but this time she was presented with a hefty sum of Rs. 1,03,315. Following a visit from the electricity department staff, it was discovered that a meter glitch had caused the error.
Prior to these incidents, another family in Ullal, Karnataka, encountered a similar issue when they received an exorbitant bill of Rs. 7 lakh. The mistake was attributed to an error made by the meter reader.