This Man From Odisha Got Rs 12,500 Electricity Bill, All He Had In His House Was 'One Bulb'

In a shocking incident, people living in Odisha have received electricity bills of over Rs 12,000 in Kalahandi, where people under BPL (Below Poverty Line) category have been living. The irked residents burnt an effigy of state Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra on Monday, expressing their anger.

One of the locals say that he has only used a single bulb and received a bill of Rs 12,500. "I use one bulb & I received a bill of Rs 12,500. How much does it cost to use a single bulb?" he asked.

Odisha: After receiving electricity bills of over Rs 12,000, people under BPL (Below Poverty Line) category in Kalahandi burn an effigy of Odisha Energy Minister

"I use one bulb & I received a bill of Rs 12,500. How much does it cost to use a single bulb?" asked a local (29.03) pic.twitter.com/paLfcbMzD1

¡ª ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2021

How much does it cost to light a bulb?

Karunakar Sagar, a villager said, "I am using one bulb. I can pay Rs 300 to Rs 500. How I will get Rs 12,500 immediately and why will I pay for it? How much does it cost to light a bulb? In the time of the pandemic once they came and took Rs 500 from me. Now after 5 to 6 months they came and are charging me Rs 12,500."

Representational Image/Reuters

"I'm in BPL category and got this connection as per the Ujwala scheme. They have provided us with only a wire. No meter yet. I ask whether the energy minister is for rich people or poor people," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress Party State president Niranjan Patnaik also blamed the government and companies for increasing power tariff to overcome their losses.

Niranjan Patnaik, OPCC president said, "I am concerned that Odisha govt has hiked the electricity tariff in the state by 30 paise per unit. To hide the misgovernance of the govt and the power companies, the BJD govt is trying to squeeze every penny from the common man's pocket!."

Power tariff to increase from Apr 4

Two days back, the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) had approved the Annual Revenue Requirement and Tariff Order for the financial year 2021-22 and said the new tariff will be effective from 4 April.

Image For Representation/Reuters

As per the letter issued by the OERC, there has been a minimal rise of 30 paise per KWH/kVAh in energy charge. Interestingly, it applies for the category of consumer other than BPL, irrigation. The prescribed hike amounts to a 5.60 per cent rise in overall retail supply tariff.

(Representative Image: Reuters)

"Now the tariff will be Rs 3 per unit for the first 50 units, Rs 4.80 per unit for consumption above 50 units up to 200 units, if consumers use the electricity between 200 to 400 units, they will have to pay Rs 5.80 per unit, on the consumption of more then 400 units, they will have to pay Rs 6.20 per unit," it said.