Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 24: Senior Citizens Welfare Forum (SCWF) J&K/Ladakh today urged upon the Lt Governors of J&K and Ladakh to redress issues being faced by the public with regard to prepaid electricity billing and installation of smart meters.
The request was made by the Forum members during its general body meeting held at Jammu under the chairmanship of Deepak Tandon (chairman of the Forum). The meeting discussed the issued in detail and said that the Government is assessing the bill for per day consumption of smart meters with breakup method compare to monthly basis on corresponding higher rates which is totally misconceived by the Department as present tariff is only meant for per month consumption basis with corresponding breakup in the higher unit rates for postpaid practices.
The Forum observed that there is a procedure to charge revised rate when tariff is silent on the issue. “The Department must approved/vetted the tariff from the JK Power Regulatory Commission before charging from the entire society,” noted Forum members and added that the Department is presently charging on their own whim without the approval of tariff from JK Regulatory Commission.
Addressing the meeting, Deepak Tandon said there is no check on the billing system. “Once a payment was deducted for day consumption out of deposited advance prepaid amount with having no opening balance, there is no question to calculate rest of reading for next day with accumulation basis to paid amount,” he said and questioned as how can Government charged for per month rate with corresponding higher breakup rates on the day one consumed units.
Tandon said that the Forum has no objection if the smart meters are to be installed as per approved DPRs which was earlier approved but the Department is not adhering to the norms as laid down in the DPRs before implementation of the Scheme as there is lot of provisions in the DPRs which were not followed like creation of new sub stations, replacement of old/rotten structures, upgrading transformers, etc.
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