In Kumarkhali of Kushtia, allegations of doubling rural electricity bills have been received within a month. On Saturday (March 30) night in Panti Bazar area of the upazila, several hundreds of customers complained to local MP and member of the standing committee related to the Ministry of Electricity, Energy and Mineral Resources Abdur Rauf with copies of their bills.
At that time, the former administrator of the district council and the senior vice president of the district Awami League, the heroic freedom fighter Zahid Hossain Zafar, the DGM of Kumarkhali Palli Vidyut Md. Hundreds of customers including Anshar Ali were present. After the discussion, the MP instructed the DGM to reduce the bill and assured the customers to reduce the bill.
Consumers complained that they paid residential bills on all the meters they paid in the month of February. The Rural Electricity Authority doubled the bill by showing the same meter as commercial in March. People of various classes and professions are in extreme trouble due to such a fabricated bill. They demanded cancellation of commercial meter bill.
Going to the ground, it can be seen that hundreds of customers have gathered in front of Panty Degree College gate with copies of bills. The local MP is discussing the bill with the DGM of rural electricity.
At this time, Panti union Dasbashi village weavers and van drivers. Ainal Hossain said that there is an electric powerloom machine in his house. Lungi is made there. He also drives a motorized van to supplement the household income. And light two electric lamps for light. His electricity bill came to Tk 1164 last February. But in the same way, the bill came to Rs. 1980 in the month of March using electricity. He alleged that rural electricity people have made fake bills.
Shahin Ali of Panti Bazar area said that the meter was residential last month. Then the bill came only 304 taka. And within a month his meter became commercial. This time the bill came to 2 thousand 771 taka.
According to him, hundreds of customers like him have seen their meter bills double. He demanded cancellation of commercial meter bill.
According to the sources of Rural Electricity Kumarkhali Zonal Office, there are about 71 thousand consumers of rural electricity in the upazila. As per Article (C) 300-30/18 of PBS Policy of Rural Electricity 2020, if two types of electricity are used from one meter, the highest rate will be billed in that meter. According to that policy, around 1,000 customers have been converted from residential meters to commercial and small industrial meters due to electricity usage for powerloom, battery-powered auto and van charging in addition to houses through verification in March. That’s why the bill has doubled.
On Sunday (March 31) at the Kumarkhali zonal office, it was seen that customers are moving around the office to reduce the bill.
At that time, an imam of the mosque, who did not want to be named, said that he runs a powerloom along with imamate. That is why the electricity office converted its meter from residential to industrial. The bill has been increased to 2 thousand 460 taka. However, the MP’s intervention took half the bill.
At this time DGM Kumarkhali Palli Vidyut zonal office said. Anshar Uddin said, according to the instructions of the higher authorities, all the customers who are using electricity for two purposes with one meter, their meters have been converted from residential to commercial or industrial meters. That’s why the bills of about 1000 customers have been increased compared to last month. However, on the instructions of the local MP sir, efforts are being made to harmonize the bill.
When asked to know, MP of Kushtia-4 Constituency Abdur Rauf said that the cultural capital of the country is Kumarkhali. This is a special area. Nothing can be done here by hurting the minds of the common people. Can’t go beyond government rules. He discussed the matter with the customers and rural electricity authorities. He directed the electricity authorities to reduce the new bill and accept the previous bill.
Al-Ma’mun Sagar/FA/JIM
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