Srinagar: Residents in Srinagar have raised serious concerns over allegedly inflated electricity bills issued by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), claiming that meter readings do not match their actual consumption.
Consumers from several areas said their power usage remains minimal, yet the bills generated are disproportionately high, triggering widespread frustration and confusion.
The issue assumes significance as complaints have emerged from multiple localities, pointing to a possible systemic problem in billing or meter recording.
Many consumers said attempts to register complaints through official channels have been unsuccessful, with the system frequently displaying error messages such as “unable to connect” or “unable to fetch your data.”
“We are not using that much electricity, yet the bills are unexpectedly high. The readings shown do not reflect reality,” said a consumer.
Residents said the inability to lodge complaints has compounded the problem, leaving them with little recourse to challenge the bills.
The situation has been particularly distressing for low-income households, many of whom earn between Rs 200 and Rs 300 per day.
For such families, receiving electricity bills in the same range or higher has become a significant financial burden, raising concerns over affordability and fairness.
Consumers have urged authorities to intervene immediately and investigate the issue, including the accuracy of meters and the functioning of the billing system.
They have demanded transparency in the billing process and corrective measures to ensure that consumers are charged only for actual usage.
“There should be accountability. The department must verify meter readings and fix the system so that people are not overcharged,” another resident said.
The complaints highlight growing public distress over essential service delivery and underscore the need for robust grievance redressal mechanisms within the power distribution system. [KNT]
