HPSEBL issues clarification on actress Kangana Ranaut allegation ₹1L Electricity bill for vacant Manali home

Shimla, Apr 9,

Amid public remarks by Mandi MP and actor Kangana Ranaut over receiving a high electricity bill for her residence in Manali, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) has issued an official clarification to counter what it calls misleading information.

During a recent public address, Ranaut alleged that she received an electricity bill of ₹1 lakh for her Manali house where she does not even reside. Expressing concern, she stated,
“Iss mahine mere Manali ka ghar ka ₹1 lakh bijli ka bill aaya, jaha main rehti bhi nahi hoon. Itni durdasha ki hui hai. Hum padhte hai aur sharmindagi hoti hai ke yeh kya ho raha hai. Par hamare paas ek mauka hai, aap sab jo mere bhai behen hai, aap log ground pe itna kaam karte hai.”
(“This month I received an electricity bill of ₹1 lakh for my house in Manali, where I don’t even live. It is such a miserable condition. I read it and feel ashamed as to what is happening. But we have a chance, all of you who are my brothers and sisters, you people do so much work on the ground.”)

Following the statement and its wide circulation across print and electronic media, HPSEBL clarified that the electricity bill of ₹90,384 issued on March 22, 2025, pertains to two months of consumption and includes previous unpaid dues — not just one month’s charges as alleged.

The domestic electricity connection (Consumer No. 100000838073) is registered in Ms. Ranaut’s name and is located at her residence in Simsa village under the Manali Electricity Sub-Division. The Board clarified that the bill includes a previous outstanding amount of ₹32,287 and covers electricity consumed during January and February 2025.

Highlighting technical specifics, the Board noted that the connected load of Ms. Ranaut’s property is 94.82 kW — nearly 1,500 percent higher than that of an average household. High consumption figures support this: 6,000 units were consumed in December 2024 (bill: ₹31,367) and 9,000 units in February 2025 (bill: ₹58,096).

HPSEBL further mentioned that the electricity bills for October to December 2024, totaling ₹82,061, were only paid on January 16, 2025. Similarly, the bills for January and February 2025 were paid late on March 28, 2025. This delay contributed to accumulated dues reflected in the March bill.

It was also clarified that Ms. Ranaut regularly receives a government subsidy on her electricity usage. For February 2025, a subsidy of ₹700 was applied to her account.

Reiterating its position, the Board urged all consumers in Himachal Pradesh to pay their electricity bills on time. “Timely payment not only avoids late charges but also helps ensure smoother service delivery for consumers and reduces administrative workload for the Board,” it stated

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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.

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Himachalscape bureau

The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.