Wrong electricity bill, faulty meter or bijli chori case? Complaint to discom, CGRF & Electricity Ombudsman — Electricity Act s.42, 56, 126, 135 + Consumer Rights Rules 2020 (state-wise, 2026)
Plain map for households and shops facing an inflated or average bill, a fast or burnt meter, a disconnection notice, an old-arrears demand, an ‘unauthorised use’ assessment or a theft case: how to complain to the distribution company (discom), meter-testing rights, the 15-day disconnection notice and the two-year arrears rule, the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) and Electricity Ombudsman, when a consumer commission can or cannot hear the dispute, and the separate Section 126 and Section 135 routes — with State pointers. Educational only — not legal advice; Adhiwakta does not file complaints or deal with discoms.
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First, identify the type of dispute
Billing and service disputes — excess, average or provisional bills, wrong reading, wrong tariff category, meter faults, delay in connection or reconnection — go to the discom and then the CGRF and Ombudsman. An ‘unauthorised use’ assessment under Section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (for example tampered meter or using a domestic connection for commercial purposes) has its own objection and appeal route. Theft under Section 135 is a criminal offence tried by a Special Court. The route you take depends on which notice or bill you have.
Step 1 — Written complaint to the discom
Complain through the discom’s call centre, app, website or office and note the complaint number; follow up in writing with a photo of the meter reading, the disputed bill and previous bills. Under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, bills should reach you at least ten days before the due date, the bill must say where billing complaints can be lodged, and a discom should not issue more than two provisional (estimated) bills in a financial year — if provisional billing continues beyond two billing cycles (except force majeure), the consumer may refuse to pay until a bill on actual reading is raised. Ask for the bill to be revised on actual reading.
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Write in Hindi or English · general guidance, not legal advice
Meter testing rights
If the reading does not match your use, or the meter has stopped, burnt or its seal is damaged, ask in writing for testing. The Rules require the discom to test within the period set by the State Commission, not exceeding 30 days of the complaint, to tell you the date so you can be present, and to give you a signed test report. If you dispute the result, the meter can be tested at a third-party laboratory approved by the State Commission chosen by you; if that result differs from the discom’s, the discom bears the cost, and if it is the same, you bear it. Excess or short charges found on testing are adjusted in later bills.
Disconnection and old arrears — Section 56
For non-payment, the discom must give at least 15 clear days’ written notice before cutting supply (Section 56(1)). Supply is not to be cut if, pending the dispute, you deposit under protest the lower of the amount claimed or the average monthly charge of the preceding six months for each month. Under Section 56(2), no sum is recoverable after two years from when it first became due unless it was shown continuously in the bills as recoverable arrears. The Supreme Court in Assistant Engineer, Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam v. Rahamatullah Khan (2020) explained that a sum ‘first becomes due’ when the bill is raised, which matters for back-billing and supplementary demands — check the dates on any old-arrears demand.
Step 2 — Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF)
Every discom must have a CGRF under Section 42(5) — sometimes at several levels (division, circle, company). Under the 2020 Rules, a grievance should normally be decided within 30 days and in any case within 45 days of receipt; a consumer unhappy with a lower-level forum can go to the company-level forum before the Ombudsman. File the complaint in the format on the discom’s website or bill, attach copies (not originals) and keep the receipt. Consumers usually present their own case.
Step 3 — Electricity Ombudsman
If the CGRF does not decide in time or you are not satisfied, you may approach the Electricity Ombudsman appointed by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission under Section 42(6). Time limits and formats are set by each State Commission’s regulations — for example, Maharashtra’s regulations allow a representation within 60 days of the forum’s order and Tamil Nadu’s within 30 days. Check your State Commission’s current regulations before the deadline passes.
State pointers
Find the CGRF and Ombudsman details on your bill and discom website. Examples: Uttar Pradesh — UPPCL discoms (PVVNL, MVVNL, DVVNL, PuVVNL) and KESCo, regulator UPERC; Delhi — BRPL, BYPL, TPDDL, regulator DERC; Maharashtra — MSEDCL (and BEST, Tata Power, Adani Electricity in Mumbai), regulator MERC; Madhya Pradesh — the East, Central and West zone discoms, regulator MPERC; Bihar — NBPDCL and SBPDCL, regulator BERC; Rajasthan — JVVNL, AVVNL, JdVVNL, regulator RERC. In some States the forum is called ‘Vidyut Upbhokta Shikayat Nivaran Forum’. State Commissions also notify standards of performance with compensation for delays (Section 57).
Consumer commission — when it can and cannot help
Ordinary billing and service-deficiency complaints can also be filed before the consumer commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (online on e-Jagriti). But the Supreme Court in U.P. Power Corporation v. Anis Ahmad (2013) held that complaints against a Section 126 assessment or action for theft and related offences (Sections 135–140) are not maintainable before consumer forums. Choose one forum thoughtfully and keep your limitation dates in mind.
‘Unauthorised use’ assessment — Section 126
After an inspection, the assessing officer may serve a provisional assessment. You may accept it and deposit the amount within seven days (then no further liability), or file written objections and ask for a hearing before the final assessment. The assessment is for the entire period of unauthorised use, and if that cannot be ascertained, limited to twelve months before the inspection, at twice the applicable tariff (Section 126(5)–(6) as amended in 2007). An appeal against the final order lies within 30 days to the appellate authority, only after depositing half of the assessed amount (Section 127). Civil courts cannot entertain suits on Section 126 matters (Section 145). Ask for the inspection report, seizure list and any photos or video.
Theft case — Section 135
Tapping lines, tampering with a meter, using devices that interfere with metering, or damaging a meter so as to use electricity is punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or fine, or both, with minimum fines linked to the financial gain (higher for repeat offences and loads above 10 kW). Where artificial means are found, the law presumes dishonest use until the contrary is proved. Such cases are tried by Special Courts (Section 153), and Section 152 allows compounding of theft on payment of a prescribed sum in many cases. If you receive a theft notice or FIR, keep the inspection papers, do not ignore court dates, and take advice before paying or signing anything.
Papers to gather
Consumer / account number; last 12–24 months of bills and payment receipts; dated photos of the meter reading; complaint numbers and replies; meter test report; disconnection notice or assessment order; inspection report and seizure list; sanctioned-load and tariff-category papers; and proof of use of premises (for category disputes).
What this guide is not
It is not advice on whether a bill or assessment is correct, not a promise about any forum’s decision, and not a substitute for your State Commission’s current regulations, which differ from State to State and change over time.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not file complaints before discoms, forums or courts, or speak to the discom for you. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- How do I complain about a wrong electricity bill?
- Complain to the discom with the bill, previous bills and a dated meter-reading photo, and ask for revision on actual reading or meter testing. If not resolved, approach the discom’s Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (Section 42(5)) and then the Electricity Ombudsman (Section 42(6)).
- Can the electricity company disconnect supply without notice?
- For non-payment, Section 56(1) of the Electricity Act requires at least 15 clear days’ written notice. Supply is not to be cut if you deposit under protest the lower of the amount claimed or the six-month average monthly charge, pending the dispute.
- Can the discom demand arrears older than two years?
- Under Section 56(2), a sum cannot be recovered after two years from when it first became due unless it was shown continuously in the bills as recoverable arrears. The Supreme Court (2020) explained that a sum first becomes due when the bill is raised.
- Can I go to the consumer court for an electricity theft or Section 126 assessment?
- No. The Supreme Court (U.P. Power Corporation v. Anis Ahmad, 2013) held such complaints are not maintainable before consumer forums. A Section 126 final order is appealed within 30 days under Section 127 after depositing half the assessed amount; theft cases go before Special Courts.
- Does Adhiwakta file electricity complaints?
- No. We do not file complaints or deal with discoms. Use Ask Adhiwakta or the AI helper for general educational guidance only.
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