Hyderabad: Consumer panel fines TGSPDCL ₹66,807 for inflated bills, faulty meter
The complainant, Ashish, a resident of Uppal Sai Ramnagar Colony in Hyderabad, had been paying electricity bills under a service connection registered in his father’s name.
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy
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Hyderabad: Hyderabad District Consumer Commission–I has directed Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) to refund ₹51,807 to the complainant, along with 12% interest, for issuing arbitrary bills without rectifying a faulty meter.
Penalty for deficiency in service
Holding the TGSPDCL guilty of deficiency in service, the Commission also ordered it to pay ₹10,000 as compensation for mental agony and ₹5,000 towards litigation costs.
The Commission observed that raising bills on an unverified basis without addressing meter defects amounts to unfair service.
Faulty meter led to inflated bills
The complainant, Ashish, a resident of Uppal Sai Ramnagar Colony in Hyderabad, had been paying electricity bills under a service connection registered in his father’s name. Between February 2023 and March 2024, the electricity meter remained stuck at a reading of 51,619 units.
Despite the family residing in the house, meter readers repeatedly marked the premises as “door locked,” and the utility issued bills based on the average consumption of the previous six months.
Temporary fix, then repeated fault
In September 2023, a lineman rectified the meter and recorded a reading of 51,875 units. A bill for 892 units was issued, and after adjusting earlier excess charges, a negative bill of ₹13,346 was generated.
However, the issue resurfaced in October 2023, with the meter again becoming non-functional. Average billing continued until February 2024.
Meter found ‘Burnt’ after testing
In March 2024, preliminary testing by the Assistant Engineer’s office indicated that the meter was burnt. Subsequent testing at the meter testing laboratory confirmed the meter was in a “burnt condition.”
A new meter was installed on March 15, for which the complainant paid ₹2,483.
Shock over sudden spike in units
Despite replacing the meter, the consumer received a bill of ₹44,937. The utility abruptly increased the old meter reading from 51,875 units to 58,461 units, showing an additional consumption of 5,668 units.
Shocked by the sudden spike, the complainant approached the Consumer Commission seeking justice.
Commission rules in favour of consumer
After examining the evidence, the Commission ruled that TGSPDCL failed to address the defective meter and arbitrarily inflated the bill.
It directed the refund of the collected amount with interest and compensation, reaffirming consumer rights against negligent service by utility providers.
