Estimated Bills Issued to Over 10.5 Lakh Consumers in Punjab
More than 10.5 lakh consumers across Punjab have received provisional N-code bills after outsourced employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) resumed their strike from June 16. The strike has halted routine meter reading and spot billing for the May-June cycle, forcing the corporation to rely on estimated billing to maintain revenue collection.
According to PSPCL data, nearly 9.6 lakh of these bills were prepared on an estimated basis due to the lack of actual consumption data. Additionally, 92,643 smart meter consumers were affected by data synchronisation and connectivity glitches, leading to temporary bills despite the automated system.
Impact on Ludhiana and Bill Delivery Methods
In Ludhiana, nine electricity divisions supply power to approximately nine lakh consumers, many of whom also received provisional bills. Officials clarified that an N-code bill is not final but a temporary estimate generated due to unavailability of consumption data. Accounts will be corrected once meter readings are available.
Any excess payment will be adjusted in the next cycle, and shortfalls will be added to subsequent bills. The bills are prepared using consumers' past records, often referencing the same period from the previous year. To ensure uninterrupted revenue collection, PSPCL directed field offices to physically deliver high-value bills. Bills above Rs 5,000 are being dispatched via speed post, while those between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 are handed over by sub-division staff.
Official Urges Calm Amid Consumer Frustration
A senior PSPCL official urged consumers not to panic, stressing that N-code bills are just a stopgap measure. “Any difference between estimated and actual consumption will be automatically adjusted in upcoming billing cycles,” the official said. However, locals expressed frustration over the estimated billing.
“Our air conditioner is not working. We were out of city for 15 days and have still received a bill of Rs 10,000 for a month. When I contacted the PSPCL office, they told me that these bills are provisional, issued based on our previous usage,” said Balwinder Kaur, a consumer.
Strike Paralyzes Consumer Services
Consumer services have been severely disrupted since outsourced employees resumed their strike on June 16. Suvidha centres are shut, meter-reading operations are stalled, and complaint redressal has nearly collapsed. Workers allege that PSPCL failed to honour its assurance of inducting eligible outsourced employees into the department.
Officials admitted that the absence of trained personnel has severely impacted service delivery. “We are facing a shortage of skilled staff to handle consumer grievances and technical issues. The strike has paralysed routine operations,” said a senior PSPCL official, requesting not to be named.
