New Billing Method Aims to Curb Domestic Power Consumption

By Express News Service - HYDERABAD

07th January 2013 02:42 PM

 Non-telescopic billing will force consumer to keep an eye on the meter


Hyderabad: The power distribution companies (Discoms) in the state have decided to revert to the earlier system of non-telescopic billing system from April. This will be nothing but an indirect way of compelling the domestic power consumer to save power. In the non-telescopic billing method there will be no slabs. Thus, the consumer will pay more even if he uses one unit of power beyond a particular category.
For example, under the proposed tariff for 2013-14, the Discoms have prepared six categories of billing. The cost of a unit up to 500 units will be Rs 6.50. If a consumer uses just one unit extra then the billing will be made for 501 units. Then, the rate for consumption of more than 500 units will be Rs 7.00. In that way the consumer will end up paying Rs 3,507. If the same consumer used only 500 units he would have paid only Rs 3,250 in that month. It means that if a consumer is not alert and the consumption crosses the 500-unit mark, he has to pay Rs 257 more for usage of one additional unit of power. This will be applicable to all the consumers in all categories under the non-telescopic method.
The power utility has failed in the last six years to argument the generation capacity. On the other hand, the power demand is increasing every day, forcing it to start State-Level Energy Conservation Mission to create awareness in consumers to save power. The power utility's argument is that saving energy means generating power. Every 100 units saved is equivalent to 120 units produced, sources in the energy department said.
Though the Energy Conservation Mission is taking drastic steps to conserve energy and has even adopted a six-point formula recently, the demand for domestic power is not coming down. Though power consumption has been brought down to some extent in government offices, awareness campaigns have shown little impact on domestic consumers.
The Discoms have, therefore, decided to give shock treatment to domestic consumers by reintroducing the non-telescopic billing method. Now, it is the responsibility of every domestic consumer to watch his meter daily to know if he has crossed a particular category or not to avoid  paying a hefty power bill. "After getting one or two months of power bills after April, consumers will understand the problem inherent in the non-telescopic billing method. So, they will be judicious in using power," said the sources.
The power utility has recently wanted 25 million consumers to save energy by using solar water heaters and replacing incandescent lamps with CFL bulbs. The target is to save 10,000-15,000 million units. The hidden part of non-telescopic billing is to compel the consumers to save power.
But, in non-telescopic billing there is a danger of innocent power consumers paying more. If the Discom worker delays noting the meter reading and producing bill by even two or three days, the category of consumer will automatically change. The delay in meter reading will again burden the consumers at no fault of theirs. This may lead to  consumer-employee clashes.

Disadvantages
* Even if a single unit more is consumed beyond a category, the rate  will be higher.
* If meter-reading or bill-serving is delayed even by a couple of days, the category for billing will change. This may lead to arguments and clashes between consumers and employees.

ends