Amid protests, CESC announces to put amounts of April-May billed in June in abeyance

"In consideration of the inconvenience of certain sections of society, we have decided to keep in abeyance the amount for the last two months included in the current bills of all low voltage domestic consumers," a CESC statement read.

The electricity supply company said that its customers will need to pay only the amount pertaining to their consumption for June.

"In effect, such consumers are to pay now only the amount pertaining to their consumption for the current month included in the above bills. Details in this regard are being worked out considering suitable regulatory guidelines. Meanwhile, the due dates for payment stand extended," according to the CESC statement.

CESC, which provides electricity in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, and its adjoining urban areas of Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, stated that the modalities relating to this matter will be announced soon.

For the last few days, CESC, which is engaged in the generation and distribution of electricity across approximately 570 sq km area, has been facing a heavy protest and social media outrage after its consumers, including general people, state ministers, heavyweight politicians and celebrities, were served a huge amount of electricity bills.

Explaining the reasons behind such exorbitant billings, CESC officials earlier said, "We are not overcharging our customers. For the last two months we billed them less than their consumption during Covid lockdown period and this month we billed our consumers for their actual use and the unbilled amount of the last two months."

Meanwhile, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee tweeted: "CESC announces relief to 25.5 lakh consumers out of total 33 lakh consumers in Kolkata. Now, only June’s actual consumption will have to be paid. Amounts billed for the 2 months of April and May in June have been put in abeyance. The payment dates too stand extended. Kolkata wins!"