STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: An abnormal jump in consumption of electricity has come to the fore in several electrical sub-divisions of the state and the increase is so unnatural that the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has written a letter and instructed the sub-divisional officials concerned to urgently examine the cause of the phenomenon and submit their reports by September 26 next.
Records reveal that the total energy consumption in Dibrugarh-1 during the month of August last was 5,417 units, but in September it has increased to 46,535 units. Similarly, the difference in energy consumption in August and in September in Hojai is 7.65 lakh units and it is 3.69 lakh units in Sarupathar, etc.
The APDCL's letter mentions that "taking due cognizance of various apprehensions raised by many consumers with regard to energy consumption recorded in the bills raised during September, 2022, it is decided to crosscheck billing of some offices by independent senior-level officials for satisfaction of consumers and submit detailed reports of the findings by September 26".
The letter further mentions proper compliance with an office order issued on July 19, 2021 to all sub-divisions on 'monitoring revenue realization and fixation of accountability thereof' "could have avoided the present unwarranted circumstances. All concerned are again requested to strictly adhere to the order to avoid any such eventuality in future."
It may be mentioned that the APDCL has already issued a show-cause notice to the company that had supplied the smart meters, because most of the discrepancies in billing have occurred in areas where these meters have been installed.
Be that as it may, the question that arises is: how and why did the billing authority of the sub-divisions concerned not draw the attention of the higher APDCL authorities to the abnormal increase in energy consumption before sending the inflated bills to individual consumers?
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