The charges payable by a consumer for supply of electrical power and other sums payable to the licensee shall be billed on prorate monthly basis indicating the period for which charges have been levied. When supply to a new consumer is commenced or an agreement is terminated on a day other than the first day of a month, demand charges and other charges as applicable under tariff notification shall be levied prorate for the number of days during the month for which supply shall have been given or agreement shall have been in force.
Disputed/Erroneous Bills :
In the event, of any dispute in the billed amount, the consumer may lodge a complaint before the designated officer/agency as determined by the Licensee and pay the average of last 6 months consumption or the billed amount whichever is less within due date pending settlement of the dispute. The licensee shall resolve the dispute or communicate its decision with reasons to the consumer within a maximum period of one month as per following Regulation.
If the licensee finds the bill to be erroneous, a revised bill shall be furnished to the consumer indicating a revised due date. Excess amount paid by the consumer shall be refunded by way of adjustment in the subsequent bill. Such excess amount shall be refunded together with interest at the rate of 1 (one) % per month from the date of payment of excess amount.
If the licensee finds the bill to be correct, the consumer shall be intimated accordingly and notified to pay the balance, if any, within fifteen days with interest at the rate of 1 % per month from the due date. If the engineer does not resolve the dispute within two months stipulated in Regulation the consumer will not be liable to pay the interest on the balance amount. However, if the dispute is not resolved due to negligence or non-cooperation of the consumer, the consumer will be liable to pay interest.
Payment :
a. The licensee shall ensure adequate publicity of the addresses / locations and working hours of the collection centers including those of banks where consumers can make payments. The licensee shall also endeavor to provide a choice of maximum alternative modes of payment to the consumers like payment through cash, local cheque, bank draft, banker’s cheque, Electronic Clearing System (ECS), etc after proper cost-benefit analysis. EHT/HT/General Purpose consumers will inform their respective banker to pay electricity bill directly to Licensees on presentation of bill. Consumers will authorise bankers to debit their account on payment of bill
b. The collection centers should have the facility of receiving payment from consumers/representatives of consumers who wish to make payments on behalf of a number of consumers. Separate counters should be provided for this purpose so that the waiting time for other consumers is not increased.
Due Date of Payment :
The Licensee shall intimate the consumer of the due date for payment of his bills. The due date of payment for all consumers shall be fifteen days from the bill date This will normally be the due date for all billing cycles for that consumer If due date of payment mentioned in the bill is a public holiday, the succeeding working day shall be treated as the due date.
Receipt of Payment :
Every consumer shall be issued a receipt in token of having received the payment. The entry regarding payment shall also be made in passbooks issued to LT consumers.
Advance Payment :
The consumer may also be allowed to make advance payment of future bills, which shall be adjusted in the succeeding months. Utility will also consider suitable rebate in case of advance payment. The entry in passbooks in such cases will be made whenever the consumer comes or sends the passbook for updation. The details of payment made in advance shall also be entered into the passbook given to the L.T. consumers. The licensee shall prepare and submit a scheme for approval of the Commission for consumers with high value bills, where such consumers shall be eligible to make payment of part of their average monthly bill in advance and shall be eligible for the additional rebate as decided by the Commission.
Collection Drop Boxes :
The licensee should make arrangements to receive payment through drop boxes where the consumer may drop his cheque (crossed account payee). Licensee should keep the drop boxes at the collection centers and at other locations as notified from time to time to facilitate the payment without the need for standing in the queue. The cheque should be drawn in favor of the licensee. The service connection number, billing month, consumer name and address including telephone number if any should be clearly written on the back of the cheque. In case the bank levies any clearance charge, the same amount shall be recoverable from the consumer in the subsequent bill.
Bounced Cheque :
In the event of non-realization of cheque, the licensee shall have the right to increase the security deposit from the consumer and shall also have the right to take steps such as levying dishonored cheque charges or initiating other actions as per Law besides insisting on future payment by demand draft or by cash. The line may be disconnected forthwith without any notice if due date is passed.
Provisional Billing :
The amount thus billed shall be adjusted against the bill raised on the basis of actual meter reading during subsequent billing cycle. Such provisional billing shall not continue for more than one meter reading cycle at a stretch. If the meter remains inaccessible even for the next cycle, the consumer will be served with a 24-hour notice under section 163 (3) of the Act, to open his premises for reading of the meter at a fixed time and date.
If the meter is not accessible at the time fixed in the notice, the supply may be disconnected after serving a 24-hour notice under section 163 (3) of the Act
Transformer Loss :
In the case of High Tension supply, if HT metering set can not be readily provided and installed, LT metering set shall be provided and connected on the LT side of the consumer’s transformers. To the reading of such metering set, will be added the average losses in the transformers calculated as follows:
a. Energy loss in transformer in units per month = (730 X rating of the transformer in KVA) /100,
b. Demand loss in transformer in KVA = One percent of the rating of the transformer in KVA.
Pass Book/ Meter reading Card :
The Licensee should provide a passbook or a meter-reading card to all Low-Tension (LT) consumers to facilitate the keeping of record of consumption by the consumer.
Non-Receipt of Bill :
If for any reason the consumer does not receive the bill for the billing cycle within two weeks of the end of the billing cycle, it would be the obligation of the consumer to approach the engineer and collect a duplicate bill
Rebate :
Payment of the billed amount in time shall entitle categories of consumers, as laid down in the tariff order under PART VII of the Act of the, to a rebate on such amount for the current billing period. Every bill shall indicate the amount payable by the relevant category of consumer if payment is made within the due date and the amount payable if the payment is made beyond the due date. The categories of consumers who are entitled to a rebate and the rate or rates of such rebate shall be determined by the licensee from time to time as part of the tariff as approved by the Commission
Delayed Payment Surcharge :
Category of consumers to whom delayed payment surcharge is applicable as per tariff order shall be liable to pay such delayed payment surcharge at the rate of two per cent per month or part thereof on arrears amount for default in payment by due date. There shall be no surcharge over surcharge.
Recovery of Arrear :
The amount paid by the consumer shall be first adjusted towards electricity duty provided that in case of part payment by the consumer, the proportionate share of the duty from the total collection shall be adjusted first. Out of the balance, adjustments shall be made in the following order of priority: (a) Current electricity charges, (b) Current miscellaneous charges, (c) Arrear electricity charges, (d) Arrear miscellaneous charges, (e) Delayed payment surcharge.
The Licensee shall not be eligible to recover any sum due from any consumer after the period of two years from the date when such sum became first due unless such sum has been shown continuously as recoverable as arrears of charges for electricity supplied and the licensee shall not cut off the supply of the electricity, as per provisions laid down under Section. 56(2) of the Act.
Installment Facilities :
Payment of bills by installments may be granted by the licensee to the senior citizens and disabled in the Domestic category on request and on production of proof. In respect of others, the facility may be granted at the discretion of the designated authority of licensee. Grant of installments shall not affect the liability of the consumer to pay delayed payment surcharge till full clearance of the arrears. Consumers availing installment facilities shall not be eligible to avail rebate. The licensee may authorise the designate the authority to grant installment facilities.
Recovery of Arrears :
In addition to other modes of recovery available under the law, engineer shall be entitled to take recourse to proceedings under the Orissa Public Demand Recovery Act, 1962 (Act I of 1963) for realisation of the licensee’s dues if such dues are treated as public demand.
Billing with Defective Meter :
For the period the meter remained defective or was lost, the billing shall be done on the basis of average meter reading for the consecutive three billing periods succeeding the billing period in which the defect or loss was noticed. It shall be presumed that use of electricity through defective meter was continuing for a period of three months immediately preceding the date of inspection in case of Domestic and Agricultural consumers and for a period of six months immediately preceding the date of inspection for all other categories of consumers, unless the onus is rebutted by the person, occupier or possessor of such premises or place.
If the readings of meter working in association with Current Transformer (CT) and Potential Transformer (PT) and other auxiliary equipment, if any, are found to be incorrect on account of wrong connection or disconnection of such CTs, PTs and other equipment or on account of omissions or commissions in regard to multiplying factor, erroneous adoption of CT ratio, PT ratio, the billing in such cases shall be done as laid down in Regulation 97.
Meter Not Accessible :
If for any reason whatsoever, the meter installed in the consumer’s premises is not accessible and meter reading can not be taken, the bills shall be raised provisionally on the basis of consumption last recorded subject to subsequent revision on the basis of actual meter reading. The meter should be installed at an accessible place.
If the engineer apprehends that the consumer is deliberately avoiding the inspection of meter and meter reading, he may give seven clear days notice by Registered Post to the consumer to remain present in the premises on the date and time mentioned in the notice. If the consumer defaults, the engineer may take steps for disconnection of supply after giving twenty-four hours notice to the consumer.