Date:19/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/19/stories/2007081953890500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Transco taken for a ride in Medak district

J.B.S. Umanadh

Sangareddy: The Andhra Pradesh Central power distribution Corporation limited (APCPDCL) Medak, has decided to go for alternative billing under its five divisions following large scale discrepancies in billing by private operators.

A study undertaken by the power distribution company in all the five divisions manned by five separate agencies revealed that the private operators have been understating the collections by conniving with few consumers.

Even though the authorities have not come up with any official statement on the amount of loss that the APCPDCL has incurred, its is believed to be substantial.

The bill collector’s who go for meter reading in households were supposed to bill the consumer for the actual reading displayed on the meter. However, for a small tip, they reportedly issued bills for a lesser reading thereby saving money for the consumer.

The system has become so foolproof that by the end of the year or by the time the actual meter reading crosses safe limits the consumers were advised either to burn or to damage the meter leaving no traces.

With the alternative bill collection system in place the Government bill collectors recognised major gaps in meter readings both in rural and urban areas of Medak district.