MAPUSA
Stating that the common man is being burdened with high electricity bills, the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) has urged the power department to stick to the 30 days billing cycle while issuing bills to consumers.
The forum has also censured the practice of using staff of the electricity department for election duties which affects the work of issuing bills within the time frame.
The CCF President Premanand Diukar informed that the power department had assured to resolve the billing cycle issue by September but so far has failed to honour the commitment.
He said the department’s explanation that even though the billing cycle exceeds 30 days, the billing was done on the pro-rata basis was not clear and satisfactory.
“It is difficult for a common person to understand the calculation on your electricity bills and when the billing cycle exceeds the 30 to 50 day period, it becomes difficult for the domestic consumer to make payment of the bill before the due date,” Diukar said.
The CCF members along with the villagers met the Assistant Engineer (Electricity), Benny Barreto and handed over a memorandum to him asking to maintain a one month billing cycle while issuing the power bills to domestic consumers.
The forum said that the staff of the electricity department are periodically pulled out by the offices of mamlatdar/deputy collector to do election-related work and thus reduces the required manpower to execute the work of the department within the time frame.
“Periodically pulling out of the staff without making alternate arrangements affects the public service and shows the inefficiency of our administrative system,” the CCF President said and appealed to the power minister to give the issue top priority and resolve the same at the earliest.
He said the department should seriously look into the concept of spot billing and implement the same if it benefits the public.
The forum has also censured the practice of using staff of the electricity department for election duties which affects the work of issuing bills within the time frame.
The CCF President Premanand Diukar informed that the power department had assured to resolve the billing cycle issue by September but so far has failed to honour the commitment.
He said the department’s explanation that even though the billing cycle exceeds 30 days, the billing was done on the pro-rata basis was not clear and satisfactory.
“It is difficult for a common person to understand the calculation on your electricity bills and when the billing cycle exceeds the 30 to 50 day period, it becomes difficult for the domestic consumer to make payment of the bill before the due date,” Diukar said.
The CCF members along with the villagers met the Assistant Engineer (Electricity), Benny Barreto and handed over a memorandum to him asking to maintain a one month billing cycle while issuing the power bills to domestic consumers.
The forum said that the staff of the electricity department are periodically pulled out by the offices of mamlatdar/deputy collector to do election-related work and thus reduces the required manpower to execute the work of the department within the time frame.
“Periodically pulling out of the staff without making alternate arrangements affects the public service and shows the inefficiency of our administrative system,” the CCF President said and appealed to the power minister to give the issue top priority and resolve the same at the earliest.
He said the department should seriously look into the concept of spot billing and implement the same if it benefits the public.
