Electricity bill received for the month of November 2008 is like a bombshell for me. The bill contains an arrear, which is in fact the relief of 40% allowed in previous month with much fanfare. In other words, the government is actually charging the electricity at the enhanced cost it previously declared.
In the meanwhile, according to the clarification given by the counter clerk of the electric company to many other dumbfound and agitating consumers, like me, gathered there, the revised enhancement of 13% in tariff would be applicable from December, but it is not clear whether the 'relief' would be available with the bill to be received in December or in the bill to be received in January next.
Anyone can recall that after the government allowed consumers to deposit 60% of the bill, it came up with quarter-page coloured advertisements in newspapers highlighting its great service to the people (because it is peoples' government!) in providing great relief in electricity bills.
The question is, if this was the type of 'relief' government intended to provide, then why was there those colourful advertisements at the cost of tax-payers' money? Who will ask about this from this peoples' government?
Government first announced about 70% rise in the electricity tariff. Then it came out with revised tariff with enhancement up to 13%. But when I see my bill history, I cannot make any head or tail of all these announcements of the government. My total bill for this year from January to September was of Rs 22,017. On the average this was Rs 2,446 per month, the lowest in January was Rs 954 and the highest in May was Rs 3,694. My October bill, with the government's revised tariff, came at staggering amount of Rs 7,445!! This is 304% more than my monthly average.
How 70% increase has resulted in 304% increase is totally beyond my understanding. Not also to be forgotten here that, in these months there were on an average 8 to 10 hours', or more, power cuts daily. Anyway, temporary relief of Rs 2,760 or 40% was received in my October bill, which has been blatantly reversed in the current month, thus providing no relief at all as claimed in colourful advertisements.