Man receives Rs 7.9 crore electricity bill in Bhubaneswar

Durga Prasad Patnaik said, ''Usually, in a month household bill varies between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500. After the installation of a smart metre, I paid a huge amount of Rs 6,000 in April. Like every month when I went to pay my bill online, I was shocked when I saw the bill for May."

Bhubaneswar: A man received an electricity bill of Rs 7.9 crore for the month of May in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. The consumer was in shock after receiving the bill. The man identified as Durga Prasad Patnaik, a resident of Bhubaneswar, was staying in a rented accommodation in the Niladri Vihar area. Patnaik alleged that he received the electricity bill after installing a smart metre in March.

Durga Prasad Patnaik said, ''Usually, in a month household bill varies between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500. After the installation of a smart metre, I paid a huge amount of Rs 6,000 in April. Like every month when I went to pay my bill online, I was shocked when I saw the bill for May." Patnaik informed that suspecting a technical glitch, he had informed the electrical department through a tweet, however, he did not get any response so far.

"I fear that if the power connection is snapped in the gruelling heat conditions. Hence, I lodged a complaint, but in vain," Patnaik said. Meanwhile, regarding the smart metre, he said, "The electricity department should make people aware of this new technology and release some videos for its use so that people will be spared from being cheated. The delivery company should take note of this and should provide proper and transparent service."