Everyone in the neighbourhood was shocked when a 90-year-old widow who lives in a small house in Karnataka’s Koppal district received a staggering electricity bill of 1.03 lakh. The mother reportedly has two bulbs in her and her son’s little house.
According to sources, Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) sent Girijamma, who resides in Koppal district’s Bhagyanagar, her electricity bill for the month of May. When she saw the Rs. 1.03 lakh bill, she had no idea how she would pay it.
Image Source: The Indian Express
Speaking to reporters, she said, “My son is a daily wage worker, and only two of us live in the tiny house. I do not know how to pay the bill and you people (media persons) must help me to get me out of this.” The woman used to get the electricity bills of Rs. 70 to Rs 80 every month.
However, when the GESCOM representatives arrived at Girijamma’s house, they made it clear that the bill’s high total was the result of a technical error and that she was not required to pay the full amount. The ‘Gruha Jyothi’ programme, which offers up to 200 units of free energy to all Karnataka residential homes, has already been put into place by the state government.
Also Read: Gruha Jyothi: Citizens Disappointed After Website Is Inaccessible On Launch Day
Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a significant rise in fixed and per unit costs on May 12 in its tariff decision, a 70 paise per unit hike.
