PSPCL halts power disconnections over inflated bills after billing glitches

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has suspended disconnection of domestic electricity connections over payment defaults arising from incorrect or inflated bills, providing relief to consumers affected by problems in the state utility’s billing system.

The directions apply to Domestic Supply consumers whose outstanding dues have arisen because of erroneous bills. Field offices have been asked not to initiate disconnection proceedings in such cases until the billing system stabilises and the disputed bills are corrected.

Billing errors surface

The decision followed complaints from consumers who received electricity bills that did not reflect their actual consumption, with the inflated amounts subsequently appearing as outstanding dues.

According to PSPCL, the recent strike by meter readers, coupled with the migration of its existing SAP and non-SAP systems to an Oracle-based Smart Billing System, resulted in some domestic consumers being billed on an average or assumptive basis. This led to incorrect or unusually high bills in several cases and triggered complaints at field offices.

No disconnections

PSPCL has now instructed its field formations to keep disconnection proceedings in abeyance wherever a consumer has been classified as a defaulter because of such billing discrepancies.

The relief is specifically linked to defaults arising from erroneous or inflated bills and does not amount to a blanket waiver of legitimate electricity dues. Consumers whose bills have been affected will be protected from disconnection while the discrepancies are addressed.

System migration underway

The billing problems emerged while PSPCL was shifting from its SAP and non-SAP systems to the Oracle-based Smart Billing System. The meter readers’ strike added to the disruption, forcing billing on estimated consumption in some cases rather than actual meter readings.

The utility has acknowledged that the combination of these factors resulted in discrepancies for some consumers. The suspension of disconnections is intended to ensure that households are not penalised for dues generated because of problems in the billing process.

Bills to be corrected

Field offices have been directed to ensure compliance with the order while the billing system is stabilised and incorrect bills are rectified. Once discrepancies are addressed, consumers would be expected to pay dues based on corrected electricity bills.

The move comes amid complaints over abnormally high bills across Punjab and is aimed at preventing consumers from losing electricity supply because of errors that were not of their making.