Fact Check: Fake notice on electricity disconnection being circulated

While the authorities have the power to disconnect your electricity connection, there are procedures involved. A consumer has to be informed in advance before the electricity is disconnected

A notice has gone viral with the claim that customers need to update their bills to avoid disconnection.

The viral message also claims that a call has to be made on a particular helpline number in order to avoid disconnection of electricity.

The message attributed to the Ministry of Power says, 'Dear consumer: Your electricity power connection will be disconnected tonight by 9 pm. Because your previous month bill was not updated. Please immediately call our electricity officer Mr. Devesh Joshi. Now you update your bill by just calling our helpline number (withheld for security reasons)."

The Ministry of Power has not issued any such order or notice. This is a scam, Press Information Bureau's Fact Check clarified on Twitter. Be cautious while sharing your personal and financial information, PIB Fact Check has also said.

Though a licensee has been given the authority to disconnect electricity supply, that authority cannot be exercised without following certain procedures. The authority cannot use this power arbitrarily and put the customers in a difficult situation.

In case of disconnections, the licensee shall ensure that a notice is issued to the consumer in accordance with the rules. The notice must also specify the reasons for disconnection and it shall include a clause to contact the local officer, if required. The notice shall be sent by registered post, under certificate of posting by courier or other similar means, the rules state. The notice can also be handed over in person.

Moreover a consumer whose installation is disconnected is entitled to get the electricity supply restored by a way of reconnection. If the disconnection is due to non-payment of a bill, then the connection shall be restored upon payment of the bill. In the cities and towns the electricity connection shall be restored on the same date of the payment of the bill. In the rural areas, it may take up to 24 hours.

Hence, it is clear that the notice which is in circulation is a scam and not correct. It has been clearly issued to cheat consumers by making them call a particular helpline number. In many cases such numbers have been used to collect personal information and bank account details. The message and notice is fake the government too has clarified.