Despite the installation of Smart Meters, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has egregiously faltered in delivering bills to consumers for a period exceeding four months, a situation that is deeply vexing the customers. Following intense public censure, JPDCL issued instructions to its personnel for the punctual billing of customers with Smart Meters and the establishment of helpline numbers to handle grievances. Furthermore, the department instructed the relevant engineers to promptly establish helpline numbers at the sub-divisional level to address issues related to Smart Meters. But nothing seems to work. The comprehensive Smart Meter implementation has fallen egregiously behind schedule. JKPDCL has cited the impracticality of physical meter readings as the primary motivation for transitioning to smart meters. It is widely acknowledged that the metering in J&K is woefully deficient, even if old metres are also taken into account. Given the protracted delay in initiating billing for a mere fraction of Smart Meter consumers, it is nearly inconceivable how JPDCL will manage the transition when the entire Jammu region is equipped with Smart Meters. There can be no valid justification for such a conspicuous lack of professionalism.
Despite the provision of a helpline number and WhatsApp contact, no one has been able to provide remedies for the customers’ woes, a situation that is completely unacceptable given the current circumstances. Passing on the buck can never resolve the situation. By withholding bills for months on end, the department is only exacerbating the difficulties faced by consumers. It is unreasonable to expect private employees or middle-class households to pay accumulated electricity bills for several months, especially during the upcoming festive season. The failure to issue invoices results in non-payment, leading to a significant revenue shortfall for the Government. An astonishing liability of 31,000 crore rupees stands against JKPDCL. Even in the face of this dire financial predicament, the JPDCL seems oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Higher authorities must intervene and take decisive action to rectify this predicament.
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