SHILLONG, July 19: The Dorbar Shnong of Mawlyndep village in Ri-Bhoi district has expressed concern over what it described as unusually high electricity bills and frequent power cuts, urging the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) and the state government to address the issue at the earliest.
Speaking to reporters, Mawlyndep Rangbah Shnong Jinu Kharbuki said residents have been facing severe hardship due to the sharp increase in electricity bills despite minimal consumption.
According to him, the Dorbar Shnong has received numerous complaints from consumers who claimed that their monthly bills had risen disproportionately.
“Many households are receiving electricity bills of around Rs 1,000, while some have been billed more than Rs 1,600 despite using only two or three light bulbs,” Kharbuki said.
He alleged that when residents approached the MeECL office seeking clarification, officials informed them that many electricity meters in the area were faulty and not functioning properly.
“Because of this, the electricity bills are being generated without proper meter readings,” he claimed.
Questioning the utility’s handling of the matter, Kharbuki asked why consumers had not been informed if the department was aware that their meters were defective.
“If the authorities knew that the meters were not functioning properly, why were the affected households not informed so that the faulty meters could be replaced?” he asked.
He maintained that it was the responsibility of the department to notify consumers about defective meters instead of issuing what he termed arbitrary electricity bills.
“The department should inform consumers whenever a meter develops a fault. It should not simply issue inflated bills without proper assessment,” he said.
Apart from the billing issue, Kharbuki said Mawlyndep and neighbouring areas have also been experiencing frequent power outages, disrupting the daily lives of residents.
He urged the state government and MeECL to take immediate corrective measures by replacing faulty meters, ensuring accurate billing, and improving the reliability of electricity supply in the area.
