Ludhiana, Feb. 16 -- In a glaring case of administrative negligence, the Punjab Electricity Ombudsman has slammed the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for "wrongly" imposing electricity charges worth Rs.15.37 lakh to Lyallpur Food Industries in Gaunspur, Ludhiana, for unusual consumption patterns due to faulty meters. The Ombudsman noted that despite repeated reports highlighting defective meters, the utility delayed their replacement for almost a year, burdening the firm with staggering charges for a lapse they failed to rectify within the stipulated period under the electricity supply code, 2014.

The dispute dates back to September 2023 when PSPCL officials inspected the firm's connection after observing irregular consump...