On the bill criminalising estimated electricity billing
You're referring to the recent development in India!
The Indian government has introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) to criminalize estimated electricity billing. The "Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022" aims to address the issue of estimated billing, which has been a long-standing concern for consumers.
Here are the key features of the bill:
- Criminal liability: The bill proposes to make estimated billing a non-bailable and non-compoundable offense, punishable with a fine of up to ₹50,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
- Definition of estimated billing: The bill defines estimated billing as a situation where the electricity distribution company (discom) bills a consumer for electricity consumption without actual meter readings.
- Mandatory metering: The bill requires discoms to install meters at consumer premises to ensure accurate billing.
- Time-bound metering: The bill sets a time limit of six months for discoms to install meters at consumer premises.
- Penalty for non-compliance: Discoms that fail to install meters within the specified time frame will be liable to pay a penalty of up to ₹5,000 per day.
- Consumer protection: The bill aims to protect consumers from estimated billing by providing them with a mechanism to dispute bills and seek refunds.
- Monitoring and enforcement: The bill empowers the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and state electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs) to monitor and enforce compliance with the bill's provisions.
The bill is expected to benefit consumers by ensuring accurate and transparent billing, reducing disputes, and promoting a fair and competitive electricity market. However, the bill has also raised concerns about the feasibility of implementing the proposed measures, particularly in rural areas where metering infrastructure may be lacking.