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Dhaka Friday,  Mar 29, 2024

HC Directs BERC To Adjust Ghost Electricity Bills

BSS

The High Court today directed the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to adjust the actual meter readings of physical electricity bills done by customers on public holidays due to corona in July.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Mujibur Rahman Mia and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order.

The power distribution companies have been directed to adjust the bills and submit a report to the court within the next two months.

Barrister Jyortimoy Barua appeared for the writ petitioner.

“There have been allegations from actual customers that electricity distribution companies have collected ghost bills without meter readings in the wake of the corona outbreak. In June, the Bangladesh Consumer Association sent a letter to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) in this regard. The letter said that they should suspend the collection of physical electricity bills,” he told BSS.

A legal notice was later sent to the concerned to take action in this regard as they didn’t reply to the writ petition filed in the High Court, he added.

Barrister Jyortimoy Barua also said that, the High Court had today issued a rule to the concerned parties asking why it would not be declared illegal not to take action as per Section 43 of the BRIC Act 2003 in the light of collection of ghost bills of licenses through BERC.

The writ petition was filed in the High Court by Architect Mobasher Hossain, the convener of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, on October 5 seeking directions to adjust the additional bills of the customers.

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