More than 100,000 customers have fallen prey to ghost bills.
The heads of the electricity distribution companies are being questioned by the power division regarding these extra bills.
The power division has decided to hold a press conference on the matter next Sunday.
Among the distribution companies, DPDC said that their over-billing has affected around 18,000 consumers, DESCO's about 4,000 consumers and NESCO's about 5,000 customers.
Till now a record of 76,000 customers being overbilled has been found but the power division estimates the number to be more than 100,000.
Those concerned think that the number is much higher. They are hiding the truth to save those involved.
Distribution companies have started submitting reports to the task force formed to investigate the bills.
According to power division sources, in an online meeting on Thursday, the power division asked the heads of five distribution companies about what steps they have taken in the last seven days regarding additional electricity bills.
In the meeting chaired by State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid, each distribution company announced its steps separately. They said they had resolved the irregularities in the bills. Customers are happy now.
A senior official in the power department said the distribution companies had been asked to answer four questions -
1) How many electricity bills have been over-billed?
2) What steps have been taken regarding this over-billing?
3) How many people are involved with this over-billing?
4) Have they been show-caused?
In response to these questions, the company chiefs said that they are investigating the matter through their own committees.
The power division formed a task force on Thursday after complaints began to flood in, and it directed the two investigation committees to submit reports within seven days. Today (Friday) is the end of those seven days.
Asked about this, Director General of the Power Cell Mohammad Hossain said that a press conference will be held on Sunday on the information received from the task force.
“We will complete the scrutinizing and selection of all these reports,” he added.
However, he declined to comment on how much over-billing has taken place or who is involved with it.
