House with asbestos sheet roof gets Rs 22,000 power bill from Bescom

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) literally delivered a shock for a family living in a modest house with asbestos sheet roofing. The painter’s family living in Doddakammanahalli on Bannerghatta Road was sent a bill for a whopping Rs 23,197!

The asbestos sheet house of Raju

Raju, a painter by profession said they normally got power bills of Rs 200 to Rs 300 per month, but in September, he received a bill for over Rs 23,000. Showing his previous power bills, Raju said Bescom charged Rs 219 in February, Rs 241 in March, Rs 265 in June, Rs 419 in July and Rs 348 in August. However, the September power bill was for an eye-popping Rs 23,197.

Raju was charged Rs 23,197 for his power consumption in the month of September.

“I registered a complaint with the power utility, but after checking, they told me to pay up. When I inquired with the officials, no one responded. It’s a single-fuse house, and we do not use electricity for anything else than the house,” said Raju.