Lucknow. There is relief news for the electricity consumers of UP. The excess amount collected from consumers in the name of smart prepaid meters during new electricity connections will now be refunded. Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has ordered power companies to adjust the extra recovered amount in the electricity bills of consumers.
According to the Commission, an excess of Rs 127.85 crore was recovered from about 3.53 lakh consumers. Now this amount will be adjusted in the electricity bills coming between April and July.
Meter price was fixed without permission
The matter came to light when the Electricity Corporation management had fixed the price of smart prepaid meter without the permission of the Commission. According to the order issued on September 9 last year, Rs 6016 was being charged for single phase connection and Rs 11,341 for three phase connection. Later the Commission implemented the new Cast Data Book, in which the price of single phase smart prepaid meter was fixed at Rs 2800 and the price of three phase meter was fixed at Rs 4100.
Additional recovery from lakhs of consumers
In about 3,53,357 new electricity connections given before the implementation of the new rates, consumers were charged much more than the fixed price. According to the data, about Rs 3216 more was recovered on single phase meter and about Rs 7241 more was recovered on three phase meter. Regarding this issue, Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Consumers Council had filed a contempt petition in the Commission and demanded a ban on additional recovery.
Commission asked for detailed report
The Commission has given clear instructions to the electricity companies to adjust the additional amount in the bills of all affected consumers between April 1 and July 31. Besides, it has also been asked to submit the complete adjustment report to the Commission by 31st July. Apart from this, instructions have also been given to the Director of Electricity Corporation to be personally present on August 11 for the next hearing of the case.
benefits to consumers
According to the Consumer Council, about 10 percent of the total connections are three phase connections. On this basis, power companies will have to return about Rs 127.85 crore to consumers. Experts believe that this decision will provide financial relief to millions of electricity consumers and in future the electricity companies will also be forced to follow the rules.
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