A government taskforce has found that six state-owned power distribution agencies have served 'inflated bills' and 'over bills' to more than one million consumers amounting to Tk 8,000 crore for the coronavirus pandemic general holiday period.

The Power Division on Saturday suspended four senior officials of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) and ssued show cause notices to 287 officials and employees of six distributing agencies, including West-Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL), Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), North West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (NASCO) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO), sources said.

Country's biggest power distribution company, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Bangladesh Power Development Company (PDB) are yet to submit reports to the taskforce although the submission time expired.
The Prime Minister's Office summoned the Power Secretary last week to enquire about the issue.

"Not only the common people, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Power Cell DG Mohammad Hossain, senior officials of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) have also received three times higher bills.  A consumer received an electricity bill for Tk 300,000 for the lockdown period of three months whereas his average bill is around Tk 2,000 per month," the official added.

"We found that about half a million consumers of six power distribution agencies are facing serious harassment for two to five times higher bills for the three months during the coronavirus pandemic," a senior official of the Power Division told the Daily Observer on Saturday.

According to the sources in Power Division, the taskforce has suggested to suspend (temporarily) four engineers of DPDC, issued show cause notice to 36 engineers and suspend 13 meter readers.

"It suggested suspending two meter readers of DESCO, 2 meter readers of NESCO and taking action against 230 officials and employees of WZPZCO," the official said.
"They served 200 to 300 per cent increased bills to 70,000 to 80,000 consumers across the country, and the number of complaints of less than 100 per cent over billing is in millions. We collect around Tk 5,000 crore as electricity bill per month, these anomalies increased the amount from Tk 5,000 crore to Tk 8,000 crore," a senior official of the government taskforce said preferring anonymity.

Amid serious criticism across the country over the billing issue, the government formed the taskforce on June 28 to punish employees and officials involved in billing for the month of March, April and May."

"They submitted their report on Saturday, as an immediate action, they suspended 4 senior officials of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) and issued show cause notices to 185 officials on Saturday as per the directives of the high ups," the official said, According to him the Power Division will hold a press briefing in this connection on Sunday (today).
"As per the findings of the taskforce, the government suspended tiny fishes, what about the Chairman and Managing Directors? Do we have to believe that the junior officials were so powerful and independent as to make average bills or inflated bills bypassing their seniors or top bosses?" Energy Adviser to Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Prof Shamsul Alam asked.

"We raised the issue two months back, on Thursday (June 30) we submitted a notice to the PMO in this regard, however, we want to see that the corrupt officials be dismissed this time and to ensure accountability in power sector, government will abolish the post of the "Chairman" from all companies as all these posts are being held by the Principle Secretary and Power Division Secretary, if they do not take the liabilities of the companies how can they enjoy the huge benefit by holding these posts," Prof Shamsul Alam added.

Earlier, the government announced that consumers will not have to pay surcharge or late fee for the electricity bills of February, March and April due to coronavirus pandemic. But they are now facing harassment when they go to the banks to pay their utility bills.

Officials at the power distributing agencies, however, say they are yet to get any official order in this regard, what the taskforce said is not very clear

"No utility offices are exempting late fees and surcharges declared by the government. Mostly the rural poor people are facing serious problem at banks and PBSs as they don't have the bargaining capacity with the officials of banks or PBSs," Prof Shamsul Alam said.

The consumers are also facing serious difficulties when they visit any office to adjust the inflated bill. They are told to pay the bill first and come later for the adjustment.
It is not the fault of a consumer. The utility agencies are responsible for that and they should adjust it first.

 Following a 66-day nationwide shutdown, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid on May 30 announced that distribution companies will not impose any surcharge on electricity bill payments for the months of February, March, April and May due to coronavirus pandemic'.

He also urged the consumers not to be panicked over the inflated electricity bills and assured them of resolving it soon. The payments of the due bills must be made by June 30, he said. But the distributors did not pay any heed to the verbal order at the field level.

 A senior official of the Power Division said, examining the situation we are planning to extend the late payment surcharge facilities for another month and allow people to pay their bills without fine within June 30, but it has not issued any circular yet.