What to do if your electricity bill is very high?:Expert decodes what rights consumers have whom should they contact on feeling cheated

The summer season across the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), and Gujarat are brutal with temperature going up as high as more than 50 degree Celcius at the peak. The extreme heat spikes electricity consumption dramatically. However, many families get shocked when they see their monthly bills. The households are confused how their monthly bills are calculated.They do not understand how the electricity distribution companies or Discoms calculate these high costs. How many homes have electricity connections in India? The total number of electricity connections in the country had stood at approximately 33.45 crore in March 2023, according to the Indian Chambers of Commerce. Power Tariffs: How much does electricity cost? Electricity boards bill people using “slabs.” If you use a small amount of electricity, the price per unit is low. If you use a large amount of electricity, the price per unit goes up. Power Tariff in MP, Gujarat, and Rajasthan Reasons for high electricity bills: Following are the main reasons behind high electricity bills: What should consumers do if they think their electricity bills are abnormally high? Kumar Anurag Singh, Advocate, Supreme Court of India says that in his opinion, many consumers either ignore an inflated bill until they have to pay penalty or they tend to pay it immediately to avoid the risk of disconnection. He says neither approach is advisable. The first step should always be to compare the current bill with previous consumption, verify the meter reading and check whether the applicable tariff, sanctioned load and billing cycle have been correctly applied. Billing errors, defective meters and incorrect tariff classification are among the most common reasons for abnormal bills. -Kumar Anurag Singh, Advocate, Supreme Court of India Founding Partner – Singh Mukherjee Chambers, New Delhi What consumer rights do you have? 1. Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) According to Singh, every electricity distribution licensee (Discom) is mandated by law to establish a Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF). The aggrieved consumer can file a complaint with the CGRF of the Discom in his area. 2. Electricity Ombudsman A consumer dissatisfied with the CGRF’s decision may ordinarily approach the Electricity Ombudsman in accordance with the applicable State Regulations. 3. Consumer Protection Act The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 reinforce a consumer’s right to reliable service, transparent billing and time-bound grievance redressal. Where there is negligence, deficiency in service or unfair billing, consumers may also seek remedies under the Consumer Protection Act, depending on the facts of each case. Never treat an excessive electricity bill as unquestionable. request testing of the meter through the prescribed statutory procedure and obtain the test report, ask for the basis of the calculation, preserve photographs of the meter reading, maintain written communication with the DISCOM and insist on a written response to your complaint. Well-documented records often determine the outcome of a dispute. – Singh What should you take note of before you approach the ombudsman: Spike in cases of smart meters malfunction: Recently, a spike in case of high electricity bills have been reported where smart metres were installed. A smart meter is a new digital electricity meter. It records how much power your house uses every few minutes. It automatically sends this data to the electricity company using the internet. Steps to take if your smart meter is getting it all wrong: Check your daily data: Open your smart meter’s mobile app to see exactly which days your house consumed the most power. Call customer care: File an official complaint with your local electricity distribution company (DISCOM). Ask for a meter test: You can pay a small fee to the electricity board to test your meter and see if it is broken or running too fast. Check your appliances: Make sure old refrigerators or old air conditioners are not leaking power or consuming too much energy. Switch to Solar: You can apply for government solar panel schemes like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to get free or highly subsidised solar electricity. How many smart meters are installed across India? The government is installing these meters quickly across the country: