Tamil Nadu Power Distributor Cracks Down on Faulty Meters, High Bills

The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) announced disciplinary action against officials after a surge of complaints about unusually high electricity bills. The utility blamed faulty meter readings, defective meters and lapses in billing procedures for the over‑inflated charges.

TNPDCL issued a circular to all superintending engineers ordering stricter field verification, surprise inspections and mass meter‑verification drives across all distribution circles. Officers at every level were instructed to document performance and assign clear responsibility to prevent future errors. The move comes as public anger grows and threatens to become a political issue for the state government, while employee unions point to severe staff shortages as a contributing factor.