Kozhikode: Actor-director Madhupal had lodged a complaint with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for charging Rs 5714 as electricity bill for the house that was locked and the board had reduced the same to Rs 300. Madhupal and KSEB explain how the bill was reduced from Rs 5714 to Rs 300.

KSEB's explanation

Madhupal's complaint regarding electricity bill was resolved. Let's see what happened to the bill.

1. Due to lockdown, the power reading of February and March could not be recorded on April 04, 2020. As per the Supply Code 2014 Regulation 124, bill was prepared according to the average of three previous billing cycles, which was 484 units.

2. The reading of April and May also could not be recorded on June 6, 2020, as the house was locked. With this, bill was again prepared according to the average of three previous billing cycles, which was 484 units.

3. Madhupal received a bill of Rs 5714 adding the previous two bills and mentioned the matter that the house was locked, in a discussion with KSEB chairman on June 14, 2020.

4. As directed by the chairman, staff of the section office went to Madhupal's office on June 15, 2020 and entered the house. As the house was open for repairing, they could enter inside and record the actual meter reading.

5. The bill was revised as per the actual reading and thus the amount was reduced to Rs 300.

Madhupal told mathrubhumi.com that this is what actually happened. As soon as the complaint was raised, they reached the house and verified the reading. The bill amount was multiplied as they could not record actual meter reading and the amount was calculated based on the previous billing cycles. When the actual reading was checked, the bill amount was reduced to Rs 300, he said.

KSEB stated that the common people also can raise complaint during similar situations. If the door is locked and power consumption is lower than average, then they can request the section office to take actual meter reading and prepare the bill according to it.

The consumers who received bills based on average power usage at locked houses/shops can get revised bills if the actual meter reading could be recorded. This is being followed for about 25 years ever since spot billing was implemented, said KSEB.