Hyderabad: Electricity bills shock small tradesmen

Hyderabad: Small tradesmen, already in distress due to covid-19 lockdown, are made to suffer more. They receivedfaulty electricity billswith steep hike in tariff from TSSPDCL, despitepaying billsregularly.

"I have paid total amount of Rs22,758 along with all the arrears on May 19, bringing down all my dues to zero. However, I was surprised to see that TSSPDCL issued a bill charging Rs7,866 for the month of May, whichalso includesa due amount of Rs2,194," said a worried Mohammed Jahanjir, who runs a flour mill at Shastripuram."Already the business is severely affected due to the outbreak of coronavirus and now the TSSPDCL authorities are adding more to our woes by sending bills charging extra amount," he added.

Mohammed Jahangir is not the lone case that throws light on the faulty affairs of TSSPDCL. Mohammed Saber, another trader with similar business at BKPuram under Rajendranagar,also carries a similar experience to share. "Although I paid 12,520on May 10, along with all dues, I was still issued a total bill of Rs.9,588on June 11, including a due amount of Rs2,592. This after clearing all my arrears last month," said Saber.

"Already," he said, "the monthly bills are taking toll on us as the business was severely affected since last three months.Now they are issuing the bills charging extra amount that too a time when business is not at all doing well and we are trying hard to overcome the issues."

There are a few more complaints pouring in of similar nature wherein tradesmen in the area were issued bills with extra amount even through the consumers paid their bills on time. "The issue might be the result of a technical fault in the system. However, the consumers can approach Joint Account Officer (JAO)concernedat local TSSPDCL offices, with their bills to rectify the issue," informed an official from the department.