NEWS TODAY 21.07.2026

 

Falty meters, billing errors caused spike in power bills: TNPDCL

 

Faulty meters, billing errors caused spike in power bills: TNPDCL

An internal communication issued by the director (finance) to all chief engineers states that field verification by revenue and accounts supervisors “has not been carried out properly”.

Image used for representational purposes only.(File Photo)

S Guruvanmikanathan

Updated on:

20 Jul 2026, 7:41 am

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has admitted that lapses by its own officials – from chief engineers down to revenue supervisors – allowed faulty meter readings and billing errors to go unchecked, and has now warned of disciplinary action against those responsible.

The warning, part of the utility’s ongoing revenue reforms, is aimed at improving revenue collection, ensuring accurate billing and enhancing consumer satisfaction. The move comes amid a rise in complaints from domestic consumers over unusually high electricity bills.

An internal communication – accessed by TNIE – issued by the director (finance) to all chief engineers, states that field verification by revenue and accounts supervisors “has not been carried out properly”, and inspections by electricity distribution circle officials “have not been conducted effectively”.

The result was a spate of complaints from domestic consumers hit with unusually high bills which could be traced to defective meters, wrong readings and billing anomalies that a basic inspection should have caught, the circular said.

The communication also points out that defective meters were routinely missed at the first stage, with the job of fixing them dumped entirely on section offices. This, the communication said, had led to negligence in several cases. TNPDCL said this had directly dented consumer confidence and exposed how poorly its own billing and inspection procedures were being enforced on the ground.

The utility has now proposed timely inspections, quick action on consumer complaints, and accurate readings. To enforce this, TNPDCL has ordered, following the directions of director (finance), periodic inspections and mass verification drives in every section to catch defective meters and clear grievances without delay. Superintending engineers have been told to fix individual responsibility within circles and zonal offices to ensure accountability is maintained. Officials have also been asked to closely monitor billing operations and take corrective measures immediately wherever irregularities are noticed.

Employees Thank Government for Restoring Old Pension Scheme

Employees Thank Government for Restoring Old Pension Scheme 

DC Correspondent

19 July 2026 8:43 PM 

Government employees and teachers who shifted from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the Old Pension Scheme thanked the Andhra Pradesh government for restoring retirement benefits. TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao speaks at a thanks giving meeting organised by employees after the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme in Visakhapatnam. 

Now Employees and teachers from North Andhra who have been shifted from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) held a thanks giving meeting in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, expressing gratitude to the Andhra Pradesh government for implementing the pension reform. 

Addressing the gathering, MLC and Government Whip Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had provided long-term financial security to thousands of government employees by restoring the OPS. He said the scheme would benefit around 11,000 families by ensuring financial security even after employees retired. 

Chiranjeevi Rao said the government had also extended OPS benefits to employees and teachers recruited under the 2004 notification but who joined service after 2004 due to technical reasons, making them eligible for pension and gratuity. 

Telugu Desam state president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao thanked the Chief Minister for issuing Government Order (GO) No. 53, which facilitated the transition from CPS to OPS. He said the government remained committed to the welfare of employees and teachers. 

Visakhapatnam North MLA Vishnu Kumar Raju criticised the previous YSRC government, alleging that it had undermined the dignity of teachers by assigning them duties related to managing queues at liquor shops. 

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/andhra-pradesh/employees-thank-government-for-restoring-old-pension-scheme-1972262

NEWS TODAY 20.07.2026