LUCKNOW, Dec. 27 -- A technical glitch in the electricity department's online billing system has left a number of consumers worried because payments made months ago are still showing as outstanding dues. Despite paying their electricity bills on time through digital platforms, many residents are now receiving warning of disconnection. A team of technical experts has been investigating the problem for the past seven days, but the exact cause of the failure has not yet been identified. Meanwhile, officials admit that in November alone, payment records of nearly 2,000 consumers were not updated in the system. As the department struggles to resolve the issue, affected consumers are demanding immediate correction of records and assurance that their connections will not be cut. Officials said the problem was not limited to the state capital. Across Uttar Pradesh, more than 27,000 such cases were reported during the same period where online payments failed to reflect in the electricity department's billing system. Several consumers reported that bills paid as early as August are not reflected in the department's records. Rita Khanna of Rajajipuram said she claimed her electricity bill of Rs 7,696 in August, but the amount never appeared in the system. Since then, every attempt to pay subsequent bills shows the August amount as pending, forcing repeated complaints to officials. Similarly, a resident of New Haiderganj Campbell Road claimed he paid Rs 1,413 online in November. When he went to pay his December bill, the system still showed the November amount as unpaid. A complaint was registered on the 1912 helpline but to no avail. Helpdesks across multiple power sub-stations-including Hussainganj, Krishnanagar, Indralok (Hydel Colony), minister's residence sub-station, and Gomti Nagar-are witnessing a surge in complaints. Many consumers are being forced to make repeated visits to offices despite having proof of payment. Data from the Lucknow central zone shows that more than 150 complaints were registered in the first 15 days of December alone. Consumers allege that even after clearing bills for September, October, and November, they are being labelled as defaulters and threatened with disconnection. The department clarified that in cases where payments were not updated, the deposited amount has been refunded to the respective consumers' bank accounts. Consumers have been advised to first check their bank statements before lodging a complaint. "If the refund has not been received, only then should consumers register a complaint," said Mukesh Tyagi, superintending engineer (commercial), Lucknow Circle. The power department has urged consumers to remain cautious and verify transaction details to avoid unnecessary visits to offices and helpdesks, while efforts are being made to prevent such technical issues in future....