While COVID-19 is causing enough damage to the people in Andhra Pradesh, the electricity bills have become a huge headache for the people as well as the government. In many houses, the electricity bill was recorded more than the consumers have consumed in the entire month.
The recent incident that happened in Chittoor district is an example of this inconsistent electricity billing in Andhra Pradesh. There is a woman in a hut that is situated in Devadoddi village in Byreddypudi Mandal whose electricity bill is Rs 41,149 for this month.
There are only two electric bulbs, two fans, and a TV in that hut and even though all 5 appliances run for 24/7 all month, the bill wouldn’t cross Rs.1000. She was shell-shocked with that bill and when she approached the officials, they said that they haven’t billed a rupee excess than what she had consumed.
This situation prevails in all villages which come under Tirupathi APSPDCL. In another hut in a village near Srikalahasthi, the electricity bill was charged Rs.17,000 and in another shed that was built with flakes, the billing was Rs.28,000 and the same is happening for many houses all over the state.
On the other side, the State government has decided to give time to consumers to pay their electricity bills of May until June 30, an extension of 45 days, without any penalty or disconnection of service. Following reports of excess power bills, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked the energy department officials to defer the collection of electricity bills till June 30.