Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) on the 14th of May, announced the postponement of the payment of electricity bills in the State.
Mr. Reddy directed the electricity department officials to postpone the payments of electricity bills for domestic consumers till the 30th of June.
The decision to do so came after many domestic consumers of Andhra Pradesh raised multiple complaints over the increased amount of electricity bills starting from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10000.
Though the electricity department justified the reason saying it is because of high consumption of power during the lockdown, increased tariff rate and generating two month’s bill, the consumers expressed disappointment.
On the other hand, the Chandrababu Naidu led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also politicised the matter and criticised the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Government.
The Andhra Pradesh State Energy Ministry decided to write letters to each consumer to eliminate suspicions about electricity bills. The State Fuel Department has given the responsibility of writing letters to approximately 1.45 crore electricity consumers in Andhra Pradesh explaining the reason for such high bills.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has a total of 2,205 cases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 till the 14th of May.
