Electricity Bill Disputed? RTI to DISCOM for Meter and Billing Records

Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems. See also water supply quality RTI.

• Sudden bill spike — 3× or 10× the usual.
• Average billing continued after meter replacement.
• Tariff slab misapplied (commercial instead of domestic).
• Security deposit revision dispute.
• Connection type (single-phase vs three-phase) wrong.
• Load sanctioned vs consumed mismatch.
• Disconnection / reconnection charge ambiguity.

• Complaint at DISCOM customer-care older than 15 days, unresolved.
• CGRF case older than 45 days, no order.
• Forum order not implemented.
• Bill crosses 3× neighbourhood average.

• Meter-reading log (last 24 months) — opening, closing, units, multiplier.
• Meter testing report (if ever tested).
• Tariff slab applied per billing cycle.
• Connection-type and sanctioned load record.
• Security deposit ledger.
• Complaint-register and CGRF log.
• Load-flow records if a disputed high-consumption spike.

• DISCOM CPIO → corporate office or circle-wise.
• State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) → for tariff / policy questions.
• Central Electricity Authority (CEA) → policy overlay.
• Ombudsman → post-CGRF escalation (separate from RTI but relevant).
• Rs. 10 fee (central) / Rs. 10-50 (state); BPL free.

To,
The Public Information Officer,
[DISCOM Name — Circle / Division / Corporate Office],
[Address]

Subject: Information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, regarding my electricity bill.

Sir/Madam,

I, [Name], consumer at [Full Address], submit:

CA / Consumer Account No.: ________
Billing-cycle months in question: ________
Meter Number: ________
Meter replacement date (if any): ________
Disputed bill amount: Rs. ________

Please provide:

1. Certified copy of my meter-reading log for the last 24 months — opening reading, closing reading, units recorded, and meter multiplier per billing cycle.
2. Meter testing report, if meter has been tested, with date and result.
3. Tariff slab applied in each disputed billing cycle.
4. Connection-type (LT-1 / LT-2 / LT-3) and sanctioned load on record.
5. Security deposit ledger since connection date.
6. Consumption pattern and load-flow record (if a high-consumption spike is disputed).
7. Complaint-register entries and CGRF / Internal Grievance Committee order on my complaint.
8. If "average billing" was applied, the period, basis, and back-adjustment method.
9. Action taken on any spot inspection requested during my complaint.
10. First Appellate Authority contact.

I enclose Indian Postal Order / Challan No. __________ for Rs. _____.
I declare I am an Indian citizen.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature, Date, Place]

1. 24-month meter log.
2. Meter testing report.
3. Tariff-slab application.
4. Connection-type + sanctioned load.
5. Security deposit ledger.
6. Load-flow record.
7. CGRF log + order.
8. Average-billing period.
9. Spot-inspection action.
10. FAA contact.

• Day 0–10 RTI routed.
• Day 10–25 Meter log + billing-engine records pulled; many adjustments happen here.
• Day 30 Reply mandatory.
• Day 30+ First Appeal; if still unresolved → Electricity Ombudsman (statutory, post-CGRF).

• Filing to SERC when the dispute is billing-cycle specific — go to DISCOM first.
• Missing the CA number.
• Asking “why is my bill high” — ask for the meter log and tariff slab.
• Ignoring the Ombudsman route post-CGRF (60-day window).

• Monthly photo of the meter face = independent evidence; attach.
• Tenant cases: the bill is in landlord's name; get landlord's authorisation, or file an RTI copy separately.
• Commercial-vs-domestic dispute: cite the state's tariff order clause; often the strongest ground.
• Load-enhancement cases: ask for the load-flow reading — technicians often over-sanction.

Q1. Is a private DISCOM (BSES, Torrent) a public authority?
Yes — by virtue of franchise / concession from the state utility; CIC has consistently held so.

Q2. Can I get the neighbour's consumption for comparison?
No — third-party under §8(1)(j). But the DISCOM will share area average.

Q3. What's the CGRF timeline?
The Electricity Act 2003, Section 42(5) prescribes CGRF resolution in 60 days.

Q4. Is the meter test free?
First test is free if the consumer initiates under Section 55 rules; subsequent tests have a nominal fee, refundable if meter is faulty.

A bill is a function of meter readings and tariff slabs. When either goes wrong, RTI extracts the record and the correction is usually straightforward.

• RTI for water supply quality
• Pillar 1 — Daily Life
• RTI for consumer complaint
• File RTI online

• Electricity Act, 2003, Section 42 (CGRF / Ombudsman)
• State Electricity Regulatory Commission tariff orders
• RTI Act, 2005, Sections 2(h), 4

Last reviewed: 21 April 2026.