Electricity Prepaid Meter: Smart prepaid meter consumers in the state will not have to pay delay penalty

If the electricity bill is not paid, this amount keeps increasing every month. Since smart prepaid meters are being installed in Bihar, consumers deposit an advance amount in the smart meter.

Therefore, the rule of paying the bill on time has now become unimportant. Late fee surcharge (DPS) will be removed from the electricity bill. The electricity company has started the process for this. The company has filed a petition in the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission. DPS will be removed from the electricity bill as soon as the commission’s decision comes.

However, the decision to remove DPS will be applicable only on smart prepaid meters. According to company officials, as per the decision given by the Regulatory Commission in previous years, one and a half (1.50) percent DPS is collected from the consumers. This amount is collected when an electricity consumer does not pay the electricity bill by the date prescribed by the company.

If the electricity bill is not paid, this amount keeps increasing every month. Since smart prepaid meters are being installed in Bihar, consumers deposit an advance amount in the smart meter. Therefore, the rule of paying the bill on time has now become unimportant. But the rule of removing the DPS being collected by the company is legally necessary to be removed. Therefore, the electricity company has filed a petition before the Regulatory Commission to amend the supply code. The hearing on this is going on from the commission and a decision will be taken soon.

The company is giving interest on advance deposit. If the consumers who are installing smart prepaid meters are paying the advance amount, then they are being given more interest than the bank. The consumers have to keep a minimum balance of Rs. 2000 in their account. On keeping a minimum balance of Rs. 2000 in the smart prepaid meter every day for three months, 6.75% interest is being received. On keeping a balance of more than Rs. 2000 continuously for three to six months, the consumers are being given 0.25% extra interest over the interest rate.

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