Chandigarh: Thousands of Chandigarh residents have been hit with an unprecedented financial shock this month after receiving two electricity bills within a span of just 15 days. Many consumers who cleared their bills in the second week of March were served another bill soon after, with a payment deadline set for the last week of the month.Although the billing periods differ, the requirement to pay two bills in the same month has left consumers alarmed and financially stretched. Several residents have said it is simply not possible to manage double payments at a time when household expenses traditionally peak due to school admissions, purchase of books and other annual costs.Sources told TOI that Chandigarh has around 2.4 lakh electricity consumers, and around half of them have received double bills.Residents say this is the first time they have experienced such an exercise. They have also questioned the timing, calling it “insensitive” and “poorly planned.” CPDL, however, maintains that the double billing is part of a transition from a bi-monthly to a monthly billing cycle, and that the billing is based strictly on actual consumption.The move has reignited public anger over Chandigarh’s decision to privatise its power distribution system. Residents and RWAs say the UT’s previously smooth and predictable system has been disrupted since CPDL took over.Omkar Singh Aulakh, a resident of Sector 18 who received two bills, said, “This is open loot. March is already a financially stressful month for families. Middle-class consumers simply cannot pay double bills. Power privatisation is becoming a burden for Chandigarh citizens.”Baljinder Singh Bittu, FOSWAC chairman, said, “The double electricity bill is the direct result of power privatisation. Meter readings are wrong in some parts of the city, and consumers are being harassed. The system must be people-friendly. Sending two bills in a month is unjustified and financially damaging.”Arun Kumar Verma, Director, CPDL, said, “We are currently transitioning from a bi-monthly to a monthly billing system. Because of this system change, double bills have reached consumers in March. All bills are based on actual readings, and no excess charges have been added. This is only a temporary situation. From next month, the billing cycle will stabilise to a monthly format. We have also increased staff for meter reading and bill distribution to streamline the process.”
