Family shocked over Rs 48,000 bill for only 60 units usage

A family in Ludhiana is confused and shocked after receiving an electricity bill of over Rs 48,000 for a house that has remained locked since February and consumed just 60 units of electricity.

The house, located in Pink Park in Barewal area, has remained unoccupied since the passing of its owner Rajni Setia in February. In March, the premises were completely locked and no appliances were in use, according to relatives. However, the latest electricity bill received last week, issued by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), shows a bill of Rs 48,560 for the month, an amount that defies logic given the state’s provision of free electricity for up to 300 units per household.

“This house has been hardly used at all since February. We were shocked to see this bill. How can there be such a huge amount when barely any power was consumed?” said a family member, holding up the bill that mentions just 60 units of usage. The anomaly has left the family baffled, whether it is a technical error or an issue of faulty meter reading. They have filed a complaint with the PSPCL and sought a thorough investigation into the matter.

Under the Punjab government’s policy, domestic consumers are entitled to 300 units of free electricity each month, which makes this case even more confusing. The PSPCL has not yet responded officially to the complaint. The incident has stirred concern among local residents, who now wonder if similar billing errors could go unnoticed in other cases, especially when properties remain vacant.

Ludhiana