Customer shocked by Tk 506 crore power bill for 235 units

A Magura resident was shocked after receiving a power bill of Tk 506 crore 83 lakh 11 thousand 593 for using just 235 units of electricity in September.

The bill was issued in the name of Aleya Khatun, wife of retired teacher Shahidul Islam, in Kechuadubi village under Magura Sadar upazila.

According to the bill, the meter reading rose from 160 on August 8 to 395 on September 8, indicating consumption of 235 units. The actual bill should have been Tk 1,963.

However, the bill included Tk 482 crore 69 lakh 63 thousand 422 as demand charge, Tk 24 crore 13 lakh 48 thousand 171 in VAT and Tk 10 as meter rent, bringing the total to Tk 506 crore 83 lakh 11 thousand 593.

If unpaid by the deadline, the bill would rise to Tk 530 crore 96 lakh 59 thousand 764 with late fees.

Aleya said the “absurd” bill had caused concern and inconvenience for her family.

Mohammad Rezaul Karim, deputy general manager of Magura Palli Bidyut Samity’s Arpara zonal office, said it was a typing error.

He said meter seal-number digits were mistakenly entered in the demand-charge field during a meter replacement, resulting in the abnormal bill.

The bill was corrected on Monday, and Aleya paid the revised amount. An investigation will be conducted and administrative action will be taken against those responsible, he added.

sks